Lawsuit for Toddlers Wrongful Death Filed against Anderson County Sheriffs Office and Officer

A lawsuit accusing the Anderson County sheriff’s office and Deputy Jahwaun Blair of negligence was filed this week by the grandmother of a young boy who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Josiah Tate, 2, accidentally shot himself on July 3 with the deputy’s gun.

A .38-caliber handgun owned by the former deputy, who Tate and his mother were sharing a trailer with, happened to be lying around the bedroom when the toddler began to play with it. Tate accidentally pulled the trigger before his grandmother could remove the gun and died a short time later at AnMed Health Medical Center.

After the incident, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was brought in to investigate and has yet to release a decision regarding the shooting. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and Blair must answer the charges of “gross negligence and recklessness” and of wrongful death.

Our attorneys from the Steinberg Law Firm understand how difficult this time must be for Tate’s family and loved ones, and send our thoughts to them.