Boy, 8, Dies After Brother Shoots Him with Handgun Mistaken for BB Gun

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Dave Urbanski

CINCINNATI (AP) — An 8-year-old Cincinnati boy was fatally shot in the chest Saturday while one of his brothers was playing with a loaded handgun that he thought was a BB gun, police said.

Cincinnati police Lt. Don Luck told the Cincinnati Enquirer that three brothers were visiting their uncle when they found the loaded gun and one of the brothers pulled the trigger, striking Sammy Lorenzo in the chest.

The boy was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and rushed into surgery, but later died.

One of the brothers "kept telling the story of how it happened, over and over again," Luck said. "It's so sad."

Luck said that no charges are expected against the children. He said it was too early to tell whether charges will be filed against any adults. An unidentified adult was in the house at the time but not in the room when the boy was shot, police said.

Cincinnati homicide detectives are investigating.