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20th Mar 2018

Nine-year-old boy shoots sister over ‘row about video game controller’

Keeley Ryan

She passed away on Sunday.

A teenage girl in Mississippi has died after she was allegedly shot by her 9-year-old brother in a fight over video games, according to police.

According to the Clarion Ledger, Sheriff Cecil Cantrell said the incident, which happened on Saturday, occurred after the girl did not give her brother the video game controller when he wanted it.

He said that the 13-year-old girl was shot in the back of the head, and rushed to the Le Bonheur’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis.

She passed away from her injuries on Sunday evening local time.

Authorities say that it is not clear how the firearm that was used the shooting was accessed. Sheriff Cantrell said it was also unclear how much knowledge the boy had regarding the dangers of guns.

The Clarion Ledger reports that he said the investigation will not be rushed, and the identities of the family members are not being released to preserve their privacy.

He said:

“He’s just 9. I assume he’s seen this on video games or TV.

“I don’t know if he knew exactly what this would do. I can’t answer that. I do know it’s a tragedy.

“This is all new ground for us, we’ve never dealt with a kid shooting a kid at age 9.

“We don’t know yet what kind of charges or if charges will be pressed. We want to make sure we’re doing everything correctly.

“That’s why I’m not too fast to say anything because there are juveniles involved. We want to do what’s right and we’re going to get it right.”