15 year old Louisiana boy shot at home on first day of school

A 15 year old Louisiana boy didn't go to school on the first day. He was shot while at home with a sibling and friends:

A 15-year-old Opelousas teenager has been declared clinically brain dead after a shooting incident on Friday, the first day of school.

Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow said the teenager didn’t go to school that day, but instead was playing with his brother and two other young men.

Exactly what happened is still unknown, but Gallow said it appears the young men had somehow acquired a handgun and were playing with it.

For reasons still under investigation, the gun discharged, striking the victim in the head.

He said police were called to the boy’s home at 2:31 p.m. Because of the age of the victim, he declined to identify the child.

“While he didn’t go to school, his friends said he was excited about school. He had just gotten a new pair of shoes,” Gallow said.

He said no charges have been files at this time but “charges will be forthcoming.”

Police first need to determine how the young men got the gun and exactly what happened.

“We are still trying to determine how the weapon discharged and for what reasons,” Gallow said.

In the meantime, he said parents need take better care of their weapons.

“This is a tragedy for all the families involved,” Gallow said.

“This is a consequence of playing with guns and not understanding what can happen if they discharge,” Gallow said. “The effects are permanent. This child’s life is gone.”

He said guns should never be in hands of inexperienced people, especially juveniles.

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