14-year old boy accidentally shot by 15-year old brother, both autistic

Damian Rolle, age 14

14-year old Damian Rolle had just gotten home from school and was with his 15-year old brother, Devonta in their Englewood neighborhood home in Chicago.  Somehow, Devonta had gotten hold of an unsecured, loaded handgun and tried to show it to his younger brother.  The gun was accidentally fired it at Damian, fatally injuring him in the chest. 

Both boys are autistic.  Their mother was still at work.  They were being watched by an older sister.  At least one other child was present at the time.

The .22-caliber gun was thrown out the third-story window after the shooting, but was retrieved by police.

From the article:

The mother of the two children, Bettey Grant, 38, said Tuesday night outside the hospital that she had no idea how her son came to possess a gun.

“There was no gun in my house that I know,” she said before being comforted by a group of family members, who later joined hands in prayer.

The victim’s uncle, Anthony Smith, said he believed the shooting was an accident.

“I truly believe it was just a serious mistake,” he said. “It really had to be a mistake.”

Smith described Rolle as a “good boy,’’ who was honest. Smith said Rolle is one of four kids who live in the home.

“They’re just little boys trying to find their way without a father,’’ Smith said of his relatives.

(A related article and video)

It is unknown where the gun came from, as it apparently wasn't from the home.  Their mother had apparently searched the home many times in the past, fearing that something like this might happen.

“My sister didn’t have weapons in her house. She didn’t even have a knife in their house because [he] had autism,” [the boys' aunt] Smith said.

She knew that the boys fought from time to time, but with sticks or bottles - not guns.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.