A tragic accident in Pennsylvania turned deadly when a group of friends were passing around a stolen gun, leading to the death of a 21-year-old man.
Pennsylvania Teen Fatally Shot While Passing Stolen Gun
Denajah Bailey, 20, has been charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, possessing an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person. The charges relate to the death of 21-year-old Xavier Jeffers, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Another friend, Amaury Sahad, 20, faces charges including receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license, and possessing an instrument of crime.
What Happened
On May 20, the three friends were in Bailey’s bedroom at her home on West Street in Pottstown, about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Authorities say the gun belonged to Sahad and was stolen.
While passing the firearm around, Bailey allegedly pointed the gun at Jeffers while they were on her bed and pulled the trigger, fatally shooting him in the head.
A fourth person witnessed part of the incident virtually. She told police she was FaceTiming with Jeffers and saw the friends pretending to shoot each other before a real gunshot rang out. According to reports, Bailey and Jeffers had been laughing, then the phone fell, and Sahad asked, “What did you do?”
Police were called about the “accidental shooting.” When officers arrived, they found Jeffers with a gunshot wound to the left side of his head. Investigators recovered a loaded black Glock 43X handgun, which had been reported stolen to the Philadelphia Police Department on December 30, 2025.
Bailey reportedly told police she had pulled the trigger two other times that evening, once pointing the gun at her own head, without it firing.
Aftermath and Court Proceedings
Jeffers was pronounced dead, and the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office confirmed the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head/neck, ruling it a homicide.
Bailey and Sahad were arraigned in court, with bail set at $50,000 and $20,000 respectively. Both were ordered to have no contact with each other or witnesses and were prohibited from possessing firearms. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 9.
All parties involved were from Pottstown, highlighting a tragic loss in the local community caused by careless handling of a firearm.
