Home where 4-year-old accidentally shot his 1-year-old brother.Photo: KPRC 2 Click2Houston/Youtube
The toddler is expected to survive, authorities said Tuesday following the incident at a family residence in northeast Houston, Texas.
Deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office attended a residence off US-90 and Sheldon Road in East Harris County at around 4:30 p.m, Sheriff Ed Gonzalezsaid in a social media post.
First responders then transported the child to the hospital where his wound did “not appear to be life-threatening,” the sheriff’s office added.
The 1-year-old immediately underwent surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital and was in good condition, the news station reported.
The victim’s father, who is also the father of the 4-year-old and a 7-year-old girl, was home during the incident. He appeared “visibly angry” in an off-camera interview with the station, the outlet said.
The gun belongs to a relative staying with the family, the father told the station.
Home where 4-year-old accidentally shot his 1-year-old brother.KPRC 2 Click2Houston/Youtube
“If you’re going to be a responsible gun owner you must put these guns away and lock them up,” HCSO Deputy Thomas Gilliland told reporters. “Four-year-olds, 5-year-olds, they’re inquisitive, and having it unsecured can lead to tragic things like this.”
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
The local District Attorney’s office is yet to determine if charges will be brought against the relative. In Texas, it is a misdemeanor to have a gun accessible to a child, per KTRK.
A representative from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for an update on the incident and the child’s condition.
source: people.com
