A tragic incident in Pennsylvania has led to serious criminal charges after a young man was allegedly shot and killed while three friends were handling a stolen firearm inside a bedroom.
Pennsylvania Woman Charged After Fatal Shooting of Friend
Authorities in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, have charged 20-year-old Denajah Bailey with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, possessing an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person following the death of 21-year-old Xavier Jeffers.
Another 20-year-old, Amaury Sahad, has also been charged in the case for allegedly possessing a stolen firearm and carrying a gun without a licence.
Friends Were Allegedly Passing Around a Stolen Gun
According to investigators, the incident took place on May 20 at Bailey’s home on West Street in Pottstown, located about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Authorities said Bailey, Jeffers, and Sahad were inside a bedroom handling a firearm that Sahad had allegedly obtained illegally. Investigators claim the group was passing the gun around and pretending to shoot each other.
Police allege that Bailey eventually pointed the firearm at Jeffers while both were sitting on a bed and pulled the trigger, causing a fatal gunshot wound to his head.
FaceTime Witness Reportedly Saw Incident Unfold
Court documents reveal that a fourth person was on a FaceTime call with Jeffers at the time of the shooting.
The witness reportedly told investigators that she saw the three friends handling the gun and jokingly aiming it at one another. Moments later, she heard a gunshot, saw the phone fall, and allegedly heard Sahad ask, “What did you do?”
The incident was then reported to emergency services as an accidental shooting.
Police Recover Stolen Firearm
When officers arrived at the home, they found Jeffers suffering from a gunshot wound to the left side of his head.
Investigators recovered a loaded Glock 43X handgun from the bedroom. A check of the firearm’s serial number revealed that it had been reported stolen to the Philadelphia Police Department in December 2025.
According to police, Bailey later admitted that she had pulled the trigger twice earlier that evening, including once while pointing the gun at her own head, but the weapon did not fire.
Victim Pronounced Dead
Jeffers was pronounced dead after the shooting.
An autopsy conducted by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and neck. The manner of death was officially ruled a homicide.
Court Proceedings and Charges
Following their arrests, Bailey and Sahad appeared before a judge for arraignment.
Bailey’s bail was set at $50,000, while Sahad’s bail was set at $20,000. Both defendants were ordered to have no contact with each other, witnesses involved in the case, or any firearms.
The pair are scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on June 9.
Investigation Highlights Dangers of Firearm Misuse
The case has drawn attention to the dangers of handling firearms irresponsibly, especially when weapons are obtained illegally. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting as the legal process moves forward.
The tragic death of Xavier Jeffers serves as a reminder that even a moment of reckless behaviour involving a firearm can lead to devastating and irreversible consequences.
