Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : 10-Year-Old Boy Shoots Himself to Death Playing With Handgun

A 10-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself Tuesday while playing with a handgun he found in an abandoned car, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.

The shooting occurred at 2:15 p.m. in the 37800 block of 90th Street East as the boy played with a .38-caliber gun in the living room of his mother’s trailer, according to Deputy Britta Tubbs. The boy, whose name was not released, died of a single gunshot wound to the head, Tubbs said.

The boy and his 12-year-old brother were visiting an aunt a few blocks from their home when the younger boy found the gun in an abandoned car outside his aunt’s house and did not tell his brother, Tubbs said. When the boys returned home, the older brother left the 10-year-old alone while he used the bathroom. He heard a shot and ran into the living room, Tubbs said.

“He found the other brother lying on the sofa . . . with the gun at his side,” Tubbs said.

Investigators said the boys may have been having problems with youths from a local park and the younger brother may have wanted the firearm as a form of protection.

Neighbors said the boys’ mother was in shock. “The mother is taking it very badly. It is very hard for her,” said Sarphine Phillips. “She said the boy found the gun under a car but it is all still a mystery.”