MUNCIE, Ind. — J'Den Watson was just getting a grasp on his personality.
"He was caring, fun, gentle, liked to play, loved being around other kids," said his father, Jammie Watson.
On Nov. 1, J'Den celebrated his 4th birthday party — one Watson wouldn't miss.
"I've dealt with a lot in my life with addiction and stuff, so I wasn't there for a lot of his life, but I was more in his life towards the end. Being there, trying to be there," Watson said.
Just as Watson was building a relationship with his son, J'Den was taken from him.
Monday afternoon, J'Den allegedly got his hands on his mother's boyfriend's gun and shot himself.
"We're so mad that they couldn't take the time to walk down the stairs to put it in a gun safe. Instead, they left it in a dollhouse and I don't understand that," said J'Den's grandmother, Marcella Taylor. "I'm mad, I'm so mad, but at the same time, my heart goes out to her because I know how good of a mother she was."
The Watson family is planning on having a funeral on Friday — something Jammie can't believe he's preparing for.
"I don't know how to cope with it," Watson said. "I don't even think I've fully accepted it."
While Watson is still processing what happened, he said he'll never forget what his son was able to teach him.
"To never stop trying, to never give up and that your kids will always love you," Watson said.
The family is still trying to get funds together for J'Den's funeral. They have set up a GoFundMe account if you would like to help.