Teen Accidentally Kills Brother With Gun

Orlando, FL — A teen accidentally killed his brother with a gun in a case of mistaken identity. The 16-year-old teen shot and killed his 12-year-old brother on Friday afternoon while their parents were not home.

The shooting happened inside a home on Portofino Drive in a gated subdivision near Lake Nona. Orlando homicide detective Mike Moreschi stated of the incident:

“A 16-year-old and 12-year-old were home and there was a firearm in the house, and the 16-year-old feared that the place was being broken into. He fired a shot and it killed his brother.”

Orlando police have yet to release the names of the involved in the accidental shooting, though they have said the teen will not be charged for accidentally shooting his brother.

Moreschi added that the case has been one of the most difficult he has seen. He stated of the 16-year-old, “He is devastated, obviously. His parents are devastated.” The detective also did not release any information on how the teen acquired the gun.

He explained that the teenager heard noises and called out for his brother. But his brother didn’t understand, then startled him. As soon as he realized what had happened, he called 911. Paramedics arrived and rushed the 12-year-old to the hospital. Unfortunately, it was too late.

This is not the first accidental shooting in Florida this week. A four-year-old boy in Pine Hills is in critical condition. He discovered a loaded gun and shot himself in the head on Wednesday. Police are still working to figure out how he got a hold of the gun.

While the teen will not face charges for accidentally killing his brother, detectives plan on meeting with the State Attorneys Office later on to discuss the case. They will decide whether there is negligence on the part of the parents. Orlando Police Department spokesman Sergeant Jim Young added, “The family is fully cooperating with the investigation; however, they are requesting privacy.”

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