11-year old Georgia girl killed by sibling playing with gun in back seat of a truck

Cassie Culpepper, age 11

A 11-year old girl was traveling with her family in Whitfield County, Georgia, when her 12-year old brother, riding in the back of her family truck with her pulled out a loaded, unsecured .38-caliber handgun he got from home, intending to "scare her."  He thought it was unloaded.  The gun discharged, killing the girl.

From the article:

Scott says the fatal shooting Friday night appears to have been a "tragic accident." The girl was riding in the back of a pickup truck with her siblings and other children when she was shot. Scott says it appears that one of the girl's siblings was playing with a handgun when she was shot. Their parents were in the cab of the truck.

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

UPDATE (6/6/12):  According to a follow-up article, the victim's name was Cassie LeaMay Culpepper.

The investigation revealed the mother of the child was driving a pickup and allowing her children and some other children to ride in the back. The mother was not aware her son had a .38-caliber revolver he had taken from their residence. He thought the gun was unloaded and was going to “scare” the girl while they were riding down the road. He pointed the weapon at her and pulled the trigger. When the mother heard the gunshot, she stopped to see what had happened. Upon discovering her daughter had been shot, she rushed to their nearby residence for help.

Culpepper “loved animals, horseback riding and spending time with her family,” said her obituary from Heritage Funeral Home in Fort Oglethorpe.

An obituary page for Cassie.