Boy, 16, kills himself after accidentally shooting his 13-year-old best friend dead

By JOE HUTCHISON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 20:22, 1 July 2026 | Updated: 20:24, 1 July 2026 A guilt-wracked teenager died by suicide moments after he accidentally shot and killed his 13-year-old friend, investigators say.   Damarion Jones, 16, shot Jonah Tanner, 13, last Wednesday inside a home in Syracuse, New York. According to prosecutors in Onondaga County, a distraught Jones then turned the 9mm handgun on himself. Tanner was found in a critical condition after the shooting. He was later declared brain dead, CNY Central reported and removed from life support. Jones died at the scene.  Their distraught families have also since announced that the two will be buried together, having launched two fundraisers to help fund their funeral.  District Attorney William Fitzpatrick told LocalSYR that Jones 'apparently felt so guilt-ridden he shot himself' and described it as 'utterly heartbreaking'. Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin told reporters that a gun was recovered at the scene, further details on what unfolded have yet to be released.  In a GoFundMe page, Jones's mother Lakiesha Brown described the teenager as being kind and loving.  Damarion Jones, pictured here, turned the gun on himself after accidentally shooting his best friend last week Tanner, seen here, was found in a critical condition after the shooting, he has since been declared braindead Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin told reporters that a gun was recovered at the scene, further details on what unfolded have yet to be released She posted: 'My son, Damarion Jones, was a sweet, loving, and kind-hearted young man. He was only 16 years old and was my only son.  'He brought so much joy, laughter, and light into my life, and his kindness touched everyone who knew him. 'Damarion and his best friend were inseparable. They were always together and shared a bond that was like brothers.  'In the midst of a heartbreaking tragedy that claimed his best friend's life, Damarion could not bear the pain of what had happened.  'Within moments, we lost Damarion too. In the span of just a few minutes, two young lives were gone, leaving their families and everyone who loved them with unimaginable heartbreak.  'We find comfort in believing they are together again, just as they always wanted to be.' 'I am raising funds to help cover Damarion's funeral expenses and give him the beautiful service he deserves. Him and Jonah will be laid to rest together that’s what they would want.' In a similar manner,  Tanner's mother Dayvonna Jones said in her own fundraiser: 'I lost my son, Jonah, the other night in a tragic accident. Their distraught families have also since announced that the two will be buried together, Jones is pictured here Jones's mother Lakiesha Brown, seen here, described the teenager as being kind and loving 'He's 13 years old him and his best friend were inseparable, sharing every moment and supporting one another through everything.  'Their friendship brought so much joy and love to our lives, and their bond was truly special.  'Tragically, we lost both boys on the same night, and the pain is overwhelming. It feels impossible to imagine life without them, and the grief has touched everyone who knew them.' 'Every contribution will help us cover expenses and support us as we try to heal from this tragedy.' If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.