DETROIT – A Detroit teen who is accused of fatally shooting his 16-year-old brother is telling police it was an accident.
The 16-year-old boy was shot and killed by his 18-year-old brother at about 1:45 a.m. Wednesday in the 700 block of Tennessee Street. The 18-year-old has been in police custody since the shooting. His brother was shot in the shoulder and died during surgery at St. John's Hospital.
The 18-year-old is telling police he had his own handgun and was playing with it with his younger brother when it discharged.
They were not the only people in the house at the time of the shooting. There were six siblings in the home -- the two involved in the shooting and a 14-year-old, 12-year-old, 8-year-old and newborn.
Their mother was in the hospital. Their stepfather is in jail.
Neighbor Harold Wallace said the family moved into the neighborhood about 6 months ago.
"Playing with guns. You know they get to ramming around and there is no adult around. Nothing like that. They think it's a toy, you know? They know better, they know better," said Wallace.
Charges issued
Detectives were working with the prosecutor's to determine if charges should be filed. They had to decide if this was an accidental shooting and, if so, was it so negligent that it was a crime?
The Wayne County Prosecutor announced charges against the 18-year-old Thursday afternoon.
UPDATE: 18-year-old man charged with manslaughter
The four younger children have been removed from the home and now are living with other family members.
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