HPD: Teen killed in accidental shooting in southwest Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Detectives say a teen is dead following an accidental shooting outside a gas station in southwest Houston.

It happened around 6:30pm outside a gas station 11200 block of Fondren near West Bellfort. Police say a group of five teens inside a Jeep were playing with a gun when it accidentally went off, striking one of them.

The teen, believed to be between 16 and 18 years old, was transported to the hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Witnesses say they're all students at Yates High School.

Detectives are trying to determine how the teens got the gun, how it went off and why they were playing with it. They say so far everyone inside the Jeep stayed on the scene and is cooperating in the investigation.

Friends say they're shocked.

Kaitlin Walker said, "They are really good boys. (They) never got into trouble. They were always together."

Another friend, Dawn Smith, said, "They were really, really close. They were friends, but it was more like they were brothers. I mean, nothing could come between them. They were all close."

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