Jasper child dies after being shot in the head

Nick McBride was a seventh-grader at Jasper Jr. High School. Nick McBride was a seventh-grader at Jasper Jr. High School. Photo: Photo Provided By The McBride Family / Photo Provided By The McBride Family Photo: Photo Provided By The McBride Family / Photo Provided By The McBride Family Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Jasper child dies after being shot in the head 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

A 12-year old Jasper boy was fatally shot Saturday after a group of children found a handgun at a house, according to Jasper County Sheriff Mitchel Newman.

Two or three children were playing with the gun when it fired around 8 p.m., striking seventh-grader Nick McBride in the head, Newman said. The shooting occurred in the 1100 block of CR 356, just south of Jasper.

McBride was rushed first to Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital then flown by medical helicopter to a Beaumont hospital, where he died at 9:52 p.m.

Although there is an active investigation, Newman said that all indications are that the shooting was accidental.

A recent report from Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control advocacy group, lists Texas as leading the nation in accidental shootings. According to the report, there have been 22 shootings in Texas this year involving children using an unsecured firearm. One incident occurred in Orange in February. Nine incidents happened in Houston, and four more in two of its suburbs.

RELATED: Texas leads nation in unintentional shootings by children

Authorities reminded gun owners that free gun locks are available at the Jasper Police Department.

“People are more than welcome to come pick them up,” Sgt. Cody Christopher said. “I encourage every gun owner to come and get one. It has saved lives and it will continue to save lives when utilized.”

McBride’s relatives recounted the teen’s infectious smile.

“His life is speaking for him now,” his cousin Rachelle Johnson said. “Such a respectful young man. I’m so proud to call him my little cousin. I love you Nick.”

Teachers shared memories of the happy boy with a great sense of humor.

“You couldn’t not smile at Nick’s smile; it lit up his entire face,” said Jason Dunn, a JISD employee. “I can’t ever remember a time I saw him upset about anything. He was polite, hardworking, and he had a contagious personality.

“He was funny and had a great sense of humor himself. He loved making people laugh. He had a great heart and you couldn’t not like him. I’m going to miss his ‘Hi Mr. Dunn’ every time he saw me. The world is a little less bright without Nicholas in it. I’m for sure going to miss him terribly.”

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A prayer vigil drew more than 200 community members to Sandy Creek Park in Jasper on Sunday.

“Nick, will forever live in your hearts just like my friend lives in mine,” the Rev. Ray Lewis told the crowd, explaining that he too had lost a friend in 1973.

Lewis recounted his first meeting with the grinning McBride — a meeting that didn’t get off to the best start.

“I hired him to do some work, and he started sleeping on the job. Once I mentioned docking his pay, the tables turned and he hit the ground running. (He) told me he was going to need all that money he was going to make because he had big plans,” Lewis said, choking back tears.

Jasper ISD will make a crisis intervention team available to help students, parents and school personnel. Parents are encouraged to use these resources by contacting their child’s school or Jasper Jr. High School’s Vanessa Phillips at (409) 384-3585 or by email at vphillips@jasperisd.net.

This story has been updated to reflect that Nick McBride is 12 years old.

awhitney@jaspernewsboy.com