5-Year-Old Boy Accidentally Shoots, Kills Elder Brother In Georgia

A 5-year-old accidentally shot and killed his elder brother with a loaded gun he found while playing outside. The incident took place at Griffin, Georgia, on Saturday.

The victim, identified as a 12-year-old boy, was accidentally shot by his brother while the siblings were reportedly playing outside on a trampoline on Hammock Street.

According to the Griffin Police Department, officers responded to an emergency call about a child with gunshot wounds to the chest on Saturday night. They provided CPR to the child until medics arrived at the scene, after which, the boy was transported to Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

In a statement released on Sunday, police described the incident as “a tragic accident”. They also said the weapon might have been discarded by a suspect while fleeing from a traffic scene earlier in the day.

“Uniformed patrol officers had attempted to effect a traffic stop in the area but the individuals fled behind houses in close proximity to where this shooting occurred some two or more hours later,” the release stated.

However, when officers searched the scene prior to the shooting, they found a bag of suspected MDMA in the area but no weapons were found.

Special investigators interviewed the 5-year-old boy and his 7-year-old brother, who was also present at the scene when the incident took place. The 5-year-old told investigators that he found a gun in a wooded area near the location of the shooting and accidentally discharged it thinking it was a toy, striking his brother in the chest.

The Griffin Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division was in search of whoever was responsible for leaving the gun in the woods. The gun was being examined for DNA evidence.

“We will diligently pursue and charge any other parties responsible for the actions leading up to the apparent abandonment of this weapon, allowing for access by these innocent children. Our hearts cry out for this family during this time of tragic loss,” the police said.

The identities of the children were not revealed. The case was still under investigation. No further information was available at the time.