Bryant Triplett: The Cook

One of the first things Bryant Triplett ever cooked for his mother was a T-bone steak which he delivered to her when she was sick in bed so that she would eat something.

Bryant Triplett was 14 when he was killed by an act of gun violence on Dec. 28, 2024, just three days after Christmas. According to the criminal complaint, Bryant was with Rahshad Bates when Bates was trying to unload a gun, but it accidentally discharged, hitting Bryant. Bryant died at the hospital that night, and Bates was charged with homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon.

“I don’t know if there’s a such thing as a perfect kid, but he was close to it,” Kamid Everett, mother of Bryant, said.

Everett describes Bryant as a cook, peacemaker, gamer, Milwaukee Bucks enthusiast, and goofy. Bryant had seven siblings and was an uncle. She said it was hard to stay mad at Bryant when he was in trouble because he was always being silly with his family.

Everett said he didn’t like violence and wanted more unity within the world. He was the type of person to give you his everything.

Everett said, right after the shooting, she forgave Bryant’s killer, Rahshad Bates, because she had known him since he was eight. She said Bryant and Bates were close and Bryant thought of Bates as a brother.

However, she revoked her forgiveness after seeing Bates smile at the court hearing and felt that he did not get enough time for his crime.

“I don’t feel like justice was served because he was 18 and you shouldn’t have been playing with a gun,” Everett said.

Bates was sentenced to a maximum imprisonment of four years.

Everett recalls Bates getting in trouble multiple times and her warning his family. She said one time, he answered the front door holding a gun. She did not want him around, but Bryant had so much love for him that he always let him come back.

In the wake of this tragedy, Everett has become involved with school boards to help schools be a place where children feel safe and can get the resources they need.