Teen Accidentally Shoots, Kills Self on Instagram Live as Friends Watch
Malachi Hemphill was just 13 when his mom believes he died while playing with a gun in his bedroom.
A Georgia teen fatally shot himself while livestreaming on social media this week in what his mother is calling a terrible accident.
Malachi Hemphill, 13, was discovered by his mother and sister in a pool of his own blood Monday after they heard a loud boom in his Atlanta bedroom.
Malachi's phone was still streaming to Instagram Live when they found him, according to reports.
Malachi was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died. Family members are certain it wasn't a suicide.
"He did not kill himself," said his godmother, Shantirea Bankston. "He loved life; he was just playing with a gun and the gun went off."
Instead, the family — including Malachi's mom — believes the teen was showing off the gun to his Instagram friends.
The family told WGCL that Malachi got the gun from another teen several days earlier.
His father, Ernest Stephens, said Malachi shot himself in the head.
"When the accident happened inside that room, he was fighting from the time it happened," said Stephens. "Before the ambulance got here, he was still fighting."
Read: Dad Whose Son, 2, Accidentally Shot Himself Said He 'Forgot' He Left Handgun Out: Cops
As detectives continue to investigate the tragedy, family and friends gathered both in memory of Malachi and as a reminder that all parents must remain vigilant to prevent similar deaths.
"All we can do is just try to teach them about decisions to make and choices not to make," Stephens said.
Watch: Parents Disarm 15-Year-Old Son Who Stole Guns and Brought Them to School: Cops
Trending on Inside Edition

There Have Been 16 Shootings at High School Football Games This School Year. It Is Still September.
Human Interest
Bones, Pottery, Among Other Items Pulled by Mudlarks From London’s River Thames
Human Interest
How This Maine Firefighter Put His Life Back Together After Traumatic Fall
INSIDE EDITION InDepth
Ohio Man, 24, Shoots Grandparents Who Gave Him Place to Live as They Watched TV, Killing Granddad, Say Police
Crime
Video of Topless High School Student Shared by Her Principal and Made Into Meme by Asst. Principal: Lawsuit
Crime
Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial: Former Neighbors Recall Happy Family, Doting Dad Always Playing With His Children
Crime
Oregon Mom Wanted Her Boyfriend to Come Over So She Filmed Herself Waterboarding Their Infant Son, Say Cops
Crime
Bryan Kohberger Trial: Kaylee Goncalves Fought Killer After Waking Up to Madison Mogen Murder, Say Parents
Crime
Las Vegas Family Claims They Saw 2 Aliens in Their Backyard
Human Interest