First Posted: 2/15/2013

SHANNON — A 16-year-old was killed Thursday when a shotgun he and his 14-year-old brother were handling accidentally discharged and he was struck in the chest.

Randall Graham, a spokesman with the Sheriff’s Office, said in a statement that an investigation showed that the teens were playing with the shotgun at their home. Paramedics were dispatched at 9:29 p.m and the 16-year-old was unresponsive when they arrived. The teen was taken to Southeastern Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“The gun did not fire initially, however, as the two brothers continued to play with the shotgun, it fired and struck the 16-year-old in the chest area,” Graham said.

The names of the teens were not released because of their age.

The investigation is continuing and no decision has been made on potential charges.

Graham did not know if there was anyone else at the home at the time of the accident because the responding deputy was off-duty and could not be reached.