1-year-old boy will be OK after he was accidentally shot by 4-year-old brother, HCSO deputies say

Briana Conner Image
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
1-year-old OK after 4-year-old brother accidentally shot him: HCSO
A 1-year-old boy is expected to be OK after authorities said he was accidentally shot by his 4-year-old brother in northeast Harris County.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A 1-year-old boy is expected to be OK after authorities said he was unintentionally shot by his 4-year-old brother.

At about 4 p.m. Tuesday, Harris County sheriff's deputies responded to a weapon disturbance call in the 17100 block of Sunshine Street after reports that the preschooler allegedly shot his sibling.

The children's father told Eyewitness News that the 4-year-old likes to play with toy guns and likely did not realize he found a real one that could hurt his brother. The father did not want to appear on camera but was visibly angry that an adult left a loaded gun out around his children.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the toddler was immediately taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A 7-year-old girl was also inside the home at the time of the shooting, but she was not injured.

While the 1-year-old will survive, Maj. Saul Suarez with the Harris County Sheriff's Office took a minute to remind the community to be responsible when it comes to weapons.

"Make sure that you're securing them, especially when there's children in the house," he said.

As an investigation continues into the shooting, the children's father told ABC13 the gun allegedly used belongs to a relative staying at the home. He said he was not at the house when the shooting happened.

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