Durham boy kills little brother in accidental shooting

Christian Pittman's 12-year-old brother fired the fatal shot when the boys were playing with a gun in the house shortly before 9:30 p.m., Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez said Tuesday. The older boy, whose name hasn't been released, was injured but wasn't shot, the chief said.

Police were notified of the shooting after a child contacted emergency operators.

"I don't know if he's dead," said the child, who dialed 911 from a nearby home and was crying during the call. "He's bleeding really bad. He's been shot. I don't know if he's breathing."

Lopez called the shooting an accident but noted that it highlights the need for better gun safety. The handgun was left unsecured in the home, he said.

"It is the responsibility of adults to make sure that kids don't have firearms in their possession," he said. "We are going to continue investigating and see who is responsible for securing that firearm and take the appropriate actions in response to it."

Deeshawn Magwood, an older brother of the two boys, said relatives believe the gun belonged to an ex-boyfriend of their mother.

"I don't know if I want to break down and cry or give up," a distraught Magwood said Tuesday. "I just wish it could have been prevented."

Lopez said it could have been. He urged families to store firearms in a secure location where children can't access it and to use gun locks to prevent weapons from being fired accidentally.

Durham Public Schools administrators said counselors would be at Glenn Elementary School on Wednesday to help students and staff cope with Christian's death.

Monday night's shooting was the second on Macon Street this year.