JENNINGS, Mo., Feb. 20 (UPI) —
A 9-year-old suburban St. Louis boy was recovering Monday after being shot in the back by his 10-year-old brother while they were home alone, authorities said.
St. Louis County police said the shooting occurred in a bedroom about 1:15 p.m. CST in Jennings, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The older brother took the wounded boy to a bathroom to clean up the wound, police said.
Joe Jefferson, the older boy’s great uncle, said the boys’ aunt had been watching them but left for 10-15 minutes to run an errand, the newspaper said.
They were playing with the gun in the house and it went off, Jefferson said.
Police said the wounded child was hospitalized and expected to recover. The older boy was taken from the home by police.
Police said the gun belonged to a relative.
No charges had been filed.