10-year old California boy shot and killed by 9-year old girl

Eric Klyaz, age 10

A 10-year old boy, Eric Klyaz, was playing with a 9-year old girl in a garage, which was made into a play
area, in San Diego, California.  No adults were present, but they were being supervised by the girl's 14-year old sister.

But the two younger kids got hold of a loaded .9mm handgun, and it was unintentionally discharged, hitting Eric in the chest.  He died soon after.

From an article:

According to police, the child and a 9-year-old girl were handling a loaded gun in the garage of a housing complex when the shooting took place, local news outlets report. Though the boy, identified by ABC 10News as Eric Klyaz, was rushed to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries later that day. 

As the Associated Press notes, the girl's 14-year-old sibling was babysitting at the time, and no adults were present. After the shot rang out shortly after 4 p.m., adults nearby ran to the garage and discovered Klyaz had been shot in the chest. Police found a 9 mm semi-automatic at the scene. 

"I heard a loud pop and said that didn’t sound good,” a neighbor told Fox 5 News San Diego. ”I found a boy curled up in the fetal position with a red dot on his back it looked like a gun shot.” 

Klyaz's parents also rushed to the garage, which residents dubbed more of a playhouse for kids in the complex, and discovered he was not breathing. The 10-year-old's father cradled his son while others attempted CPR, U-T San Diego reports. 

San Diego Police Department officials have launched an investigation into the accidental shooting, and the 9-year-old girl's parents could face criminal charges, NBC 7 News San Diego reports. 

"We’re going to have to investigate where the gun was and whether the child had immediate access to it or if they were digging around in an area where they wouldn’t expect for them to get to,” Lt. Joseph Ramos told the local NBC affiliate.

Another girl witnessed the shooting.  From another article:

Neighbors of the community say it’s common for the children to play together, bouncing from one open garage to the next. 

“I just can’t believe it,” said resident Julie Choi whose two sons often played with the victim. She described the boy as a fourth grade student. 

Choi saw the boy riding on his scooter outside her home moments before the shooting. 

The girl who witnessed the shooting was very shaken up but uninjured police said. She will be questioned about what happened in the moments leading up to the shooting. 

Carla Mangus said residents all keep their garages open and the complex is “like a big, huge playground” for the children. 

She now has the difficult task of explaining to her son why he will no longer have his playmate. 

“Playing with him every single day and now he’s not there,” Mangus said. “We’re going to have to deal with that.”

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