Six-year-old boy killed by four-year-old playmate's gunshot

A six-year-old boy was pronounced dead after being shot in the head by a four-year-old friend as the pair’s parents stood in another yard not far away, law enforcement sources said Tuesday.

Brandon Holt of Toms River, New Jersey was standing about 15 yards away from his friend when the four-year-old accidentally shot the .22 rifle on Monday night. The younger boy’s mother called 911 to report the shooting and Brandon was rushed to the hospital. He was initially listed in serious but stable condition.

“Right now, we’re keeping this child in our prayers, and I ask everyone to do the same,” said Police Chief Michael Mastronardy. “Unfortunately, it’s a tragic accident. Right now, what we want to concentrate on is working with the family and helping them through this difficult time.”

Law enforcement officials have not revealed who owned the gun but neighbor Debi Coto said her sister watched as police removed “at least 10 guns” from the younger boy’s home.

“I’m sad for the children involved and their families, but I’m angry with whoever owns that gun and allowed a little child to get hold of it. A four-year-old can’t load a gun,” she said. “I had just been telling my sister how nice it is to see kids playing together and enjoying themselves, and then this happens.”

Coto added that the mother of the four-year-old was visibly upset and appeared to be struggling to understand what happened. She said both families were relatively new to the neighborhood.

The tragedy comes only four days after a four-year-old in Nashville, Tennessee accidentally shot and killed the wife of a sheriff’s deputy. Authorities said Wilson County Deputy Daniel Fanning was showing his collection of firearms to a relative when the boy came in, picked one up off the bed, and shot 48-year-old Josephine Fanning. She was pronounced dead at the scene.