An 8-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his 5-year-old sister while wounding his 4-year-old brother in yet another shooting incident in the US involving children.
The tragic incident occurred when the siblings were alone in an apartment in Jacksonville, Florida, Sheriff’s Office Chief Chris Butler said.
Their mother had left the three kids by themselves when the shooting happened on Saturday, Butler told The Florida Times-Union.
He said somehow the eldest boy got a gun from somewhere and fired a single shot.
The bullet hit his sister, killing her, and striking the younger boy who sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, Butler said.
Butler said the 4-year-old is being treated at the hospital, and is expected to make a full recovery.
“We have no reason to believe this (shooting) was an intentional act...We believe, in the absence of any other information being developed, that unfortunately this is a tragic unfortunate accidental shooting,” Butler said.
He said the Sheriff’s Office is consulting with other agencies including the office of State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Florida Department of Children and Families Child Protection Team in the ongoing investigation.