4-year old New Jersey boy shoots 6-year old brother in head with family rifle

(updated. see below)

Brandon Holt, age 6

A 4-year old boy and his 6-year old brother, Brandon Holt, were playing outside their home in Tom's River, New Jersey, when the younger boy got hold of a loaded .22-caliber rifle.  That's when he decided to do "pretend shooting" and discharged the gun, hitting his older brother in the head.

Brandon has now died from his wound.

A number of other guns were retrieved from the home.

From an article:

The incident occurred yesterday at 6:30 p.m. in Toms River, NJ. The younger boy took the rifle into his backyard. A neighbor told the Star-Ledger that "he fired once from 15 yards away, striking Brandon [Holt] in the head. The older boy was sitting in a go-kart at the time, said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy at a press conference with Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato. While the 6 year old lies in critical condition at an area hospital, detectives continue their investigation, which included seizing a collection of guns from the 4-year-old's home, said another neighbor." 

Little Brandon's uncle says that bullet went through the boy's head—it's apparently lodged in his brain. It's unclear if anyone will be charged. 

Another neighbor told WABC 7, "I'm sad for the children involved and their families, but I'm angry with whoever owns that gun and allowed a little child to get hold of it. A 4-year-old can't load a gun."

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

UPDATE (4/10/13):  Brandon has now died from his wound.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON BRANDON;

The family of Brandon Holt has decided to donate some of his organs after his death. From an article:

But even as they struggle with their grief, the Holts are looking for some good to come out of the tragedy. That's why his parents have decided to donate their son's organs.

"Me and my wife, we both decided it would help carry his name that he is helping somebody," Ron Holt said. "We didn't want to but we felt he could do some good."

Added Randy Holt: "If you could avoid another family, what they went through ...."

But the family wants to do more.

Randy Holt, 39, of Toms River, created a Brandon Holt Memorial Fund. The family is deciding what the foundation will do.

But Brandon's mother, Christine, wants to stop gun violence from touching any other family's life.

"(Christine Holt) has a lot of strong feelings with it, and she is getting passionate with the gun control," said Randy Holt. "And if she can assist other families (who are) going through tragedies..."

But even in their sorrow, the Holts are grateful to the community that has embraced the family in the aftermath.

"So many people came through for them the, police, the town, the church, the funeral home has been amazing," Randy Holt said. "It is a tragic event and it is unfortunate that it takes a tragic event to get everybody to see the great side of people."

People "have been phenomenal. Unfortunately nothing will bring him back," Randy Holt said.

"You can't ask for more than what people have done," Randy Holt said. "It is making a bad experience better."