Two-Year-Old Dies in Accidental Shooting

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

PAINTSVILLE — A 2-year-old little boy, Gray Dean Mollette died after accidentally shooting himself with a 9 mm handgun Saturday morning in Paintsville.

Johnson County Coroner J.R. Frisby confirmed that it was an accidental shooting and that a 9 mm weapon was the cause.

Dennis Blackburn set up a Go Fund Me page entitled ‘Final expenses for Gray Dean Mollette.’

Blackburn posted to “please keep Summer and Travis Mollette, Dawn and John Fitzpatrick and the boys in your thoughts and prayers. Gray Dean Mollette lost his life in a tragic accident. It has been devastating to hear about the loss of a young child. It’s a heartbreaking situation. This family needs support from friends, family, and this community. In support of the family, I am asking for donations to help cover funeral and burial expenses. If you can please donate. If you do not want to donate online, please contact me to make other arrangements. Funeral Services are incomplete at this time.”

The Go Fund Me page has a contact button beneath the organizer, Dennis Blackburn’s name.

Thus far, as of Monday, the Go Fund Me account has raised $3,385 of their $7,500 goal.

Blackburn has also set up another fundraising event on Hope Fund Me entitled ‘Final expenses for Gray Dean Mollette,” and as of Monday, the donations total $2,665 of a $15,000 goal.

Mollette is survived his parents, Travi Dean Mollette and Summer Mariah Taylor, paternal grandparents, Jimouthy Dean Mollette and Denice Franklin Mollette of Paintsville maternal grandparents, John and Dawn Fitzpatrick of Prestonsburg, great paternal grandmother, Tammy Mollette of Pikeville, Step great maternal grandfather, Ronald Spears and great maternal grandparents, Robert and Anita Gullett of Thelma.

Friends may visit the Preston Funeral Home on Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Graveside services are scheduled for noon on Thursday, at the Fitzpatrick Cemetery at East Pont with Ben Stephens officiating.