Boy, 8, Shot Dead by Sibling Playing With Shotgun: Police

An 8-year-old boy was fatally shot by his sibling who was playing with a shotgun, according to Texas police.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) was alerted to reports of a shooting at a home in Bear Creek Apartments in the 5500 block of Timber Creek Place at about 3 p.m. on Monday.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, a database that collects information about shootings from across the U.S., 28 people have been shot dead in Houston since October 1 this year.

The database also said that seven children aged between 0 and 11 have been fatally shot in Houston since January 1 this year.

A 10-year-old had been handling the shotgun when it went off and struck the 8-year-old boy in the upper part of his torso, according to ABC13.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the victim, first reported as being "possibly 9," died inside the apartment.

In a Tuesday, October 24, tweet, Gonzalez said: "A child (possibly 9 yoa) was playing with a shotgun when it discharged and struck his sibling (possibly 10). The child was pronounced deceased at the scene.

"A teen sibling was also in the apt at the time but was not injured. All three siblings were believed to be alone at the time. All info in preliminary, investigators are en route to the scene."

ABC13 reported the family who lived in the apartment had moved to the Houston area from Venezuela and had been in the process of getting their children enrolled at a local school.

Deputies told the network it was unclear whether the shotgun was loaded or whether the children loaded it.

Police are currently carrying out an investigation into the shooting as well as the circumstances around it.

The HCSO offers free gun locks to residents and a form to request one can be found on its website.

Newsweek has contacted the HCSO for comment.

In July, a man in California accidentally shot his sister dead when fatally shooting her boyfriend.

Police arrested Gerardo Zurita, 40, and Leobardo Zurita, 19, in connection with the double murder.

Stacy Zurita, 21, and her boyfriend Raul Jose Roberto Nunez, 25, were shot dead in Fresno on July 8.

A police Facebook post read: "Both victims were transported to CRMC [Community Regional Medical Center] where they later died from their gunshot wounds. Detectives from the Homicide Unit responded and began their investigation.

"They learned that a fight had taken place between members of both the Zurita and Nunez families at the Iowa address.

"Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle leave the scene but return a short time later. Shots were fired from an occupant inside the vehicle, striking both Raul and Stacy."

In April, a 4-year-old girl died after being shot by her 2-year-old brother outside a Pennsylvania gas station.

The Chester Police Department said the siblings were inside a car when the boy picked up a gun and fatally shot her.