A Houston, Texas mom sent her ten-year old son and his eleven-year old cousin to retrieve something from her car.  The boys found a loaded gun in the vehicle and, while playing with it, the ten-year old was shot and killed.  Police are uncertain which of the boys was handling the gun when it went off. There is an ongoing investigation.

In Riverside, Alabama, Joshua Smith, a 13-year old 8th grader accidentally shot himself.  “Indications are that it was a tragic accident,” the sheriff’s office stated.

“Any time you lose a student is awful,” the local school superintendent said. “Our prayers obviously go out to the family in this tragic loss of a young life.”

Source:

Ana Gonzalez, Ninfa Saavedra, “10-year-old Boy Killed in Accidental Shooting Inside Vehicle in North Houston, Police Say,” click2houston.com (October 28, 2021).

Taylor Mitchell, “13-year old Student Dead After Apparent Accident Involving Gun,” St. Clair Times (October 29, 2021).