Tragedy struck a Memphis family on New Year's Eve after a "celebratory gunshot" resulted in the death of a child.

Police say three-year-old Brayden Smith died shortly after a bullet pierced the window of his family's Memphis apartment, striking the toddler.

Authorities believe the bullet was fired as part of a "celebratory" gunfire amid New Year's Eve festivities from another part of the complex, PEOPLE reports.

Memphis Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe expressed his concern, emphasizing that celebratory gunfire is both illegal and can lead to tragic consequences. He stated, per Action News 5: "Celebratory gunfire is illegal, and celebratory gunfire leads to tragic events like this. And we just have to stop shooting these guns."

Brayden tragically died after being hit by a stray bullet. Credit: GoFundMe

Brayden was immediately rushed from the Edgewater Cove neighborhood to Le Bonheur Hospital in critical condition around 6:00PM on New Year's Eve. Tragically, Brayden succumbed to his injuries on January 3, as confirmed by family friends who created a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.

"Right now, we have the opportunity to come together as a community and support Brayden's family during this unimaginably difficult time," the GoFundMe description reads. "By donating to the fundraiser, we can help alleviate the financial burden of the funeral expenses and show our love and support for Brayden's loved ones.

"No amount is too small, as every dollar makes a difference. Let's honor Brayden's memory and provide comfort to his family by standing together in this time of sorrow. Thank you for your generosity and support as it means more than you will ever know."

As of this writing, more than $4,000 has been raised for Brayden's family.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, with the Memphis Police Department working to identify and bring those responsible for the tragedy to justice.

In the wake of Brayden's shooting, the Memphis Police Department's gunfire detection software recorded a staggering 327 gunshots between 9:00PM on New Year's Eve and 3:00AM on New Year's Day. During that six-hour period, residents reported shots fired 195 times, highlighting the alarming prevalence of celebratory gunfire.

Tragically, celebratory gunfire incidents are not isolated events. In 2023, there were 1,573 unintentional shootings recorded across the country, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Credit: Gun Violence Archive

There have already been 20 unintentional shootings reported in just the first five days of 2024.

PEOPLE reached out to the Memphis Police Department to inquire about arrests or persons of interest in the case. However, a spokesperson declined to provide further details on the ongoing investigation.

Featured image credit: GoFundMe

Tragedy struck a Memphis family on New Year's Eve after a "celebratory gunshot" resulted in the death of a child.

Police say three-year-old Brayden Smith died shortly after a bullet pierced the window of his family's Memphis apartment, striking the toddler.

Authorities believe the bullet was fired as part of a "celebratory" gunfire amid New Year's Eve festivities from another part of the complex, PEOPLE reports.

Memphis Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe expressed his concern, emphasizing that celebratory gunfire is both illegal and can lead to tragic consequences. He stated, per Action News 5: "Celebratory gunfire is illegal, and celebratory gunfire leads to tragic events like this. And we just have to stop shooting these guns."

Brayden tragically died after being hit by a stray bullet. Credit: GoFundMe

Brayden was immediately rushed from the Edgewater Cove neighborhood to Le Bonheur Hospital in critical condition around 6:00PM on New Year's Eve. Tragically, Brayden succumbed to his injuries on January 3, as confirmed by family friends who created a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.

"Right now, we have the opportunity to come together as a community and support Brayden's family during this unimaginably difficult time," the GoFundMe description reads. "By donating to the fundraiser, we can help alleviate the financial burden of the funeral expenses and show our love and support for Brayden's loved ones.

"No amount is too small, as every dollar makes a difference. Let's honor Brayden's memory and provide comfort to his family by standing together in this time of sorrow. Thank you for your generosity and support as it means more than you will ever know."

As of this writing, more than $4,000 has been raised for Brayden's family.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, with the Memphis Police Department working to identify and bring those responsible for the tragedy to justice.

In the wake of Brayden's shooting, the Memphis Police Department's gunfire detection software recorded a staggering 327 gunshots between 9:00PM on New Year's Eve and 3:00AM on New Year's Day. During that six-hour period, residents reported shots fired 195 times, highlighting the alarming prevalence of celebratory gunfire.

Tragically, celebratory gunfire incidents are not isolated events. In 2023, there were 1,573 unintentional shootings recorded across the country, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Credit: Gun Violence Archive

There have already been 20 unintentional shootings reported in just the first five days of 2024.

PEOPLE reached out to the Memphis Police Department to inquire about arrests or persons of interest in the case. However, a spokesperson declined to provide further details on the ongoing investigation.

Featured image credit: GoFundMe