Mathis HS Football Player Deshoune Pope, 14 Shot Himself In His Eyes While Trying To Take A Picture With The Gun
By Sarah Marsh
Mathis HS Football Player Deshoune Pope, 14 Shot Himself In His Eyes While Trying To Take A Picture With The Gun
Mathis police investigate how a teen’s curiosity with a gun turned deadly.
September 12, 2026
This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on September 12, 2026
Deshoune Pope was shot while handling a gun, leaving family and friends heartbroken.
A tragic accident claimed the life of 14-year-old Deshoune Pope on Saturday in Mathis, leaving his family and community in shock.
Authorities have confirmed that the teen died in what they are describing as an accidental shooting on the 800 block of Olivo Street.
Deshoune, a freshman at Mathis High School, had gone to spend time with friends that day but never returned home.
His mother, Stephanie Black, described the heartbreaking circumstances. She said,
“Four of the boys have told me we were going fishing, we were getting ready to go fishing and there was a gun and he picked it up.”
According to Black, Deshoune’s curiosity led to the tragic moment. “I know my kid, he went to take a picture holding that gun. I don’t know how and what made him pull the trigger,” she added.
The gun discharged, and Deshoune was struck in the eye. Emergency crews rushed him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Mathis Police Chief Guillermo “Willie” Figueroa confirmed that investigators are still looking into how Deshoune accessed the firearm.
No charges have been filed, and the case remains under investigation.
Deshoune was more than a student; he was an athlete, a jokester, and a compassionate teen known in the community for riding his horse, Avocado. Black said,
“Most people at Mathis know my kid from the boy with the horse.”
As the town grieves, Black has shared a warning to other teens about the dangers of firearms.
“Keep your hands off of these guns, they’re not cool and they’ll never be cool,” she said.
She emphasized that she doesn’t want the teens involved to feel guilty but hopes the tragedy serves as a lesson.
The family will host a vigil at the Mathis High School parking lot on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., and donations for funeral expenses are being accepted.
The outpouring of support has provided some comfort to Black during this devastating time.
“It feels really good to see how many lives my kid actually touched,” she said.
The accidental shooting of Deshoune Pope has left a town mourning and highlights the urgent need for awareness around gun safety for youth.
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