CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 15-year-old boy was killed in what police say was an accidental shooting in east Charlotte Sunday afternoon.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to a shooting at a home on Coriander Court a few minutes after 4 p.m. Sunday. Police said 15-year-old Steven Gomez was playing video games when he was accidentally shot by someone in their house.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by Medic.
"To respond to calls like these is just a real tragedy,” Maj. Brad Koch said Sunday.
The shooting remains under investigation. However, CMPD officers said they are not looking for any suspects. It's still unclear what led to the shooting.
CMPD said Monday it will continue its investigation before sending the findings to the district attorney's office.
Neighbors said they are saddened by the news.
"Oh, it’s a tragedy," David Crumbley said. "It's something you never want to hear that someone lost their lives in something that feels like it could have been prevented."
As a gun owner, Crumbley said the incident raises many questions about gun safety.
"As a parent, the first thing I definitely feel is sorry for the loss but why was the gun available," he continued. "Where was the responsibility of the ownership? Why was it not locked away?"
According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, nearly 1,300 kids under 18 die each year from shootings. Nearly 40% of unintentional shooting deaths of kids ages 11-14 years old occur in a friend's home. Moreover, 75% of children who live with guns in a home know where they are stored.
"A lot of people have brought guns for self-protection and their kids don’t know anything about guns," Hyatt Gun Shop Owner, Larry Hyatt, said. "I tell you, sometimes kids know exactly where that gun is even though parents think they don’t."
Hyatt said it is important to educate your kids about guns. He added proper storage and gun locks like go a long way to protect your family.
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