12-Year-Old Shot In The Face By Younger Brother Playing With A Gun

A 12-year-old boy in Missouri was fatally shot by his 10-year-old brother while they were playing with a gun.

The two brothers were inside a St. Louis home Tuesday night when the victim, Lafrance Johnson, was shot in the face by his younger brother, cops said. The boys were with a parent, who was getting a haircut in the house when the shooting took place, according to KMOV.

A 36-year-old woman, who told cops that she owned the gun the boys were playing with, was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death.

The victim was a sixth-grader studying in Selvidge Middle School in the Rockwood School District. The school district released a statement in light of Lafrance’s death and said counselors will be available for students and staff.

“Our sincere thoughts and sympathies are with his family as well as the educators and friends who knew and loved LaFrance. We have assembled our crisis team at Selvidge Middle and will have counselors on hand this week for students and staff who will need assistance,” the statement read.

The boy’s death follows a series of shootings that involve guns finding their way into children’s hands in St. Louis. A 12-year-old girl shot her cousin and then herself last week during a live stream video in a St. Louis apartment, AP News reported.

Another 12-year-old girl suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound in February.

“This is like the third incident in a week we’ve had so far," Major Ryan Cousins with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said, as quoted by KMOV. "Prior to that, we have sent out information to the alderpersons about receiving gun locks. As an agency, we will come out and teach everyone how to use them. We do understand people are going to own guns, however, to protect these children, we want to ensure these guns are secured safely.”

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones also acknowledged the shootings and stressed the need for gun safety.

“As a mom, I know how important it is that we take every step we can to keep our babies safe,” the mayor said. “These recent shootings have devastated our entire city, and we need to take immediate action to protect our children. If you have a gun in the house, be a responsible gun owner; store firearms locked and unloaded and pick up a free gun lock to help you and your loved ones safe.”