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Jacksonville teen's shooting death was accidental, step-mom charged with evidence tampering

An update on the shooting death of a 15-year-old on Jacksonville's westside.

A police report shows Bryant Layfield's death was the result of an accidental shooting.  His step-mom, Christy Files, has been arrested for tampering with evidence.

Police say Files initially told them Layfield was shot while in the backyard of the house on Melvin Circle East Sunday night.  She reported seeing two suspects fleeing hte backyard of the house, over her fence.

Detectives searched her home and found a bloodied .22 caliber long rifle in the attic. 

After further questioning Files finally admitted to putting the gun in the attic for safe keeping from other children, and eventually admitted putting it in the attic to hide evidence from police.

The report shows Layfield was accidentally shot while inside the house.

A police spokesperson says this is still an active homicide investigation, meaning someone took the life of another.

“He was a sweet, precious boy,” says his real mother Amanda Helmken.  “The whole family loved him.”

Helmken said she's still in shock and is working on making funeral arrangements for her son.

She says Files was being a good stepmother.

“She was a good mom and everything,” Helmken says.  “She helped him get in his right grade, he was in A-B honor roll.  He was doing football.  He had football camp.”

She says she wants to know why Files allowed guns to be so accessible in the house with children.

“Why would she hide the gun in the attic?”

John Harrell with the Department of Children and Families says there were three other children who were living in the home at the time.  They are currently in the care of a relative.

Both police and DCF are investigating.

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