Last Thursday, mail carrier Sharralle Williams was delivering mail on a new route in South Shore when she received an alert on the Citizen app about someone nearby needing medical help. She saw a distressed woman calling for help and quickly ran over. The woman asked if she knew CPR.
Williams, who had been trained in CPR for over ten years, entered the house expecting to find an adult in distress. Instead, she saw 8-year-old Josiah Hooker with a gunshot wound to his head. Authorities later revealed that Josiah and his brothers had been playing with a loaded gun—allegedly left out by their stepfather—when the accident happened.
Williams immediately began chest compressions and instructed Josiah’s stepfather, Derrick Taylor, to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She said every moment felt like an eternity. Paramedics arrived soon after and took over, rushing Josiah to Comer Children’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
“I lost focus on everyone else,” Williams said. “It was a kid… I can’t get it out of my head.”
Josiah Was a Loving and Curious Child
Josiah was described by his family as a kind and intelligent boy who loved to read. He enjoyed spending time with his siblings and cousins, building forts, and playing outdoors. His great-aunt Rennea Finley called him “the most beautiful boy with a big heart.”
Stepfather Charged with Child Endangerment
Authorities have charged 32-year-old Derrick Taylor with child endangerment. Prosecutors say that on the day of the incident, Taylor left the loaded gun on a dresser before taking a nap.
About 20 minutes later, he woke up to the sound of a gunshot and his other children screaming. He found Josiah lying in a pool of blood, disarmed the gun, and carried him outside while yelling for help.
Police later recovered a single bullet casing at the scene. Taylor allegedly admitted to leaving the gun unsecured. He was also charged with possession of a firearm as a felon, as he had two previous burglary convictions.
Taylor’s family defends him, claiming the gun was not his and that he had not been informed his fiancée had left the house that day. His mother, Ineather Johnson, insisted that her son loved and cared for all the children.
Mail Carrier Reflects on Tragedy
Williams, who was praised for calling 911 and attempting to save Josiah’s life, later learned from co-workers that the boy did not survive.
“I don’t know what happened, I just know a little boy is gone,” she said. “I feel for his family.”
