A 16-year-old has died after what authorities are describing as a tragic accidental shooting in Fort Worth on Sunday evening.
According to the Fort Worth Police Department, officers responded to an apartment complex in the 6600 block of South Hulen just after 5:15 p.m. Upon arrival, they found the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police spokesperson Tracy Carter said early findings suggest the incident involved two teenagers who were believed to be friends. Investigators say the pair were inside the apartment when one of them discharged a firearm, striking the other.
“This is very much a tragic accident,” Carter stated, emphasizing the emotional toll on multiple families connected to the case.
The teen who fired the weapon has been detained as homicide detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Authorities are also working to determine who owned the firearm and how it came into the teens’ possession.
Officials are urging the public to take firearm safety seriously. Carter noted that individuals who are unfamiliar with guns or not legally allowed to handle them should avoid doing so altogether.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the victim’s identity and confirm the official cause and manner of death.
Police are asking anyone with information related to the incident to come forward as the investigation remains ongoing.
