13-year old Nevada girl unintentionally shot and killed by 17-year old brother

Alondra Cervantes, age 13

13-year old Alondra Cervantes was at her Sparks, Nevada, home when her 17-year old brother pointed his shotgun at her and "simulated" trying to shoot her.  However, his shotgun, which he had purchased illegally only two days before, was loaded and the safety was not on.  Alondra died from her wound.

The brother was "enamored with the gang lifestyle" and has a previous record with law enforcement.  It's unclear if he actually belongs to a gang.

From an article and news video:

It is in front of Apartment D at 105 E. Prater Way in Sparks where police say her brother shot her, mistakenly believing the safety was on the gun.

“They are absolutely devastated, as would anyone. But they are absolutely devastated,“ says Commander Brian Miller with Sparks police.

Police say they were called to the apartment Monday afternoon on Prater Way. They say a caller told them an intruder had entered the apartment, killed the girl and escaped.

However, on further questioning of the teen, police say, he admitted he shot his sister with a recently purchased shot gun.

The 17-year-old, police say, refuses to say who the gun seller was.

“The 17-year-old brother was enamored with the gang type lifestyle,” says Miller.
And he could be affiliated with a gang.

Sparks police confirm this is not the boy's first scrape with the law.

A family member told KOLO 8 News Now the boy was incarcerated for more than a year, but did not specify why.

From a related news article and video:

Friends and family said Cervantes was an energetic, happy person, full of spirit and humor. On Tuesday they took the first step in their grieving process by sharing their memories.

"She was one of those crazy, outgoing girls," Vega said. "If she saw us crying right now, she'd go up to you and she'd be like, 'Why are you crying? Don't cry.'"

"She was funny; she was smart; she was very sweet," Sydney Velasquez, a friend of Cervantes, said. "She was very energetic."

"She was always happy, smiling," Garcia said. "She would always make everyone's day."

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