ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown police say an 11-year-old boy died Tuesday in what was determined to be an accidental shooting.
The incident occurred at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday at a home in the 600 block of North Front Street, near Tilghman Street, a release said.
The Lehigh County District Attorney's Office said an investigation by police determined the 11-year-old boy was accidentally shot by his 10-year-old brother.
- An 11-year-old boy was killed in a shooting Tuesday night in Allentown
- Police were dispatched to a home in the 600 block of North Front Street
- The child died at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest
The coroner's office said it was notified about 9 p.m. to respond to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where the child had died.
According to police and the district attorney's office:
The two boys and their older brother, together with their parents, stopped at a home owned by the aunt of the father of the boys.
Also residing in the home was the aunt's 24-year-old son, the legal owner of two 9 mm handguns that were out of a lock box because he had recently taken them shooting and planned to clean them.
Expecting the children to come downstairs to play video games, the 24-year-old cousin tried to hide the weapons, then went upstairs to socialize with family members.
The children went to the basement and a short time later, a gunshot was heard.
The district attorney's office described the shooting as a "tragic accident" and said the 10-year-old would not be charged.
The 24-year-old gun owner is not being identified because he is not being prosecuted, the DA said in the statement, noting a good faith effort to hide the guns.
Out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation, the identification of the child will not be made public at this time, the coroner’s office said.
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday. The cause and manner of death will be released after that, the coroner's office said.
