12-year-old accidentally shot by his brother - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

12-year-old accidentally shot by his brother

A 12 year old boy remains in Children's of Alabama after being shot early this morning in his home. ABC 33/40 spoke with Birmingham Police sergeant Johnny Williams who says that appears to be the case.

For now it's still being investigated as an accidental shooting. However, the district attorney's office is reviewing the information. I also spoke with neighbors who just shook their heads.

"Guns are one of the things now days that are prevalent. They need to be taught what guns are for. I just done understand parents who leave their guns lying around," said  neighbor, Clifford Roy.

He was awaken by a commotion in the middle of the night.

"I heard the shot and I heard the screaming and the hollering. And I rolled over and went back to sleep. I've become sort of anesthetized to hearing gun shots," said Clifford.

He believes the noise came from this house 82 hundred block of 10th ave south.

"Investigators were alerted that a twelve year old was shot. They responded and they found that the victim had received a gunshot wound. He was transferred to children hospital for treatment," said Birmingham Police Sgt. Johnny Williams.

Williams tells me police took everyone in the house to headquarters for questioning. Here's what police believe happened.

The victim's 16-year-old brother was trying to uncock a gun when it went off. Williams confirmed the 12-year-old was shot in the neck. Americans have a right to possess firearms but Williams warns with that right comes responsibility.
   
"We want people to take control of their weapons. If they decide to have them in their home, make them safe. Learn the proper way to care for the weapon, to place it in your home away from the minors," said Williams.

According to kidsandguns.org, some 1.7 million children live in a home with  unlocked and loaded guns. Clifford Roy says he taught his three daughters early how not to handle guns.

"When I had kids around they knew where they were and they knew how to use them. But they knew not to point them at anybody," said Roy.

Williams says Birmingham Police are not releasing any information about the number of people in the house at the time or the type of gun, or how the teenager allegedly got a hold of it.   

ABC 33/40 has confirmed with Birmingham Fire Chief C.W. Mardis that the boy's parents were driving him to the emergency room when they wrecked their car near fire station 19 in the East Lake area. Firefighter stabilized the boy and the was then transported to the hospital. The question still remains, why did they not stay at the house and call for help.