Tragedy as teenager mistakes his little brother, 12, for intruder and shoots him dead in Florida home

PUBLISHED: 22:04 EST, 23 March 2013 | UPDATED: 22:04 EST, 23 March 2013

A 12-year-old boy was mistakenly shot dead by his own brother after he mistook him for a home intruder according to authorities in Florida.

The 16-year-old was home alone on Friday afternoon when he told Orlando police that a noise inside his gated Lake Nona home prompted him to grab a gun and mistakenly shoot the boy dead in the chest.

'He heard some noises and he called out for his brother and he didn’t answer and so then his brother startled him,' Orlando Police Department Detective Mike Moreschi told WFTV.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Fatal mistake: A 12-year-old boy was mistakenly shot dead by his own brother in this Florida home on Friday afternoon

The teen, realizing his horrifying mistake, immediately called 911.

The boy was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital where he died just hours later.

'He's devastated, obvious. His parents are devastated by what happened and it’s just a really bad situation for the family,' said Moreschi.

More...

Police say the teen will not face charges.

They say the gun was legally owned but it wasn't immediately known how the boy got his hands on the weapon.

Detectives plan to meet with the State Attorney's Office to decide if negligence was committed in the case.

911 call: The older brother immediately dialed 911 before the 12-year-old boy was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital where he died just hours later

The shooting occurred on the first day of spring break for the boys according to neighbors.

The boys' parents were not home during the tragic death that's proven a nightmare for everyone within the area.

'This is everybody's business because it's in our neighborhood,' Ana McKitterick, whose son rode the school bus to Lake Nona Middle School with the young victim, told the Orlando Sentinel.

'I Know there's other people in the neighborhood who own guns but that is our responsibility how to keep them and if you leave children that age they are very curious,' she added to WESH.

The boy's school principal called its parents on Friday addressing the shooting while offering her sympathy

Fears: The gun was legally owned but it wasn't immediately known how the boy got his hands on the weapon, sending chills throughout neighbors in this gated Central Florida community

Worst fears: The gun was legally owned but it wasn't immediately known how the boy got his hands on the weapon, sending chills throughout neighbors in this gated Central Florida community

'While words can never fully express how much sadness this brings, as a school family, we will continue to support the student’s family during this time of grief,' the principal said according to WESH.

'It’s very sad, and shame on the parents to have a gun where kids are. This should have never happened,' resident Carmen Friend told WESH.

‘It cuts deep and it breaks my heart. There was the shooting up in Connecticut. Anytime young life or life in general has to be cut short senselessly, it’s a very unfortunate thing,’ neighbor Francis Ikwueme said. ‘My heart goes out to the family and I will keep them in my prayers.’

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:

Add your comments

Comments (99)

The comments below have not been moderated.

View all

This is why Britain will never adopt US-style gun laws.

- FiFi4-Glasgow , Glasgow, United Kingdom, 24/3/2013 22:29

Click to rate Rating (0)

- justcradd , San Diego, 24/3/2013 17:34_____________ No, I've been living in the US for almost 40 years and I'm not a US citizen.. never will be. I was born British and will die British. Maybe you need to spend some time living in England if you want to understand just what can happen when you 'allow' people to control everything in your life. I was ashamed of what my countrymen have allowed to happen to England. ______________ San Diego sounds restrictive...how dare they make you show your ID to buy beer, lol. Where I live the other things are allowed, although I don't know anything about gambling on sport games. I live in a very red area and you are in a blue state. Maybe there's something to that.

- Aly , Expat living in the, United States, 24/3/2013 19:25

Click to rate Rating 1

I bet they were playing with the gun and the older brother shot him. And now he is lying to save his butt. I hope this is investigated and not just going on the word of the shooter.

- Bunnie , Hutch, 24/3/2013 19:10

Click to rate Rating 1

Get rid of the guns!

- Robyn , Pittsburgh, PA, 24/3/2013 19:09

Click to rate Rating 3

The NRA is one very sick organization.

- rickyo , Charleston, 24/3/2013 19:06

Click to rate Rating 4

Another success for gun loving America! - Wordsworthbloke, London, United Kingdom, 24/3/2013 12:33 I guess it is better to run around England with knife wielding drunk blokes?

- myopinion4today , couldbeanytown, United States, 24/3/2013 18:52

Click to rate Rating 5

Celtica455 - did you even read the article? It was first day of spring break, so that's why they weren't at school

- Katie , Canada, 24/3/2013 18:50

Click to rate Rating 2

Why is a 16 year old kid allowed to use a gun? And why is the guns not locked up?. Why is there a gun in the house?

- Batman , Croydon, 24/3/2013 17:59

Click to rate Rating 14

Sad but the parents bear responsibility for having guns in the house and allowing access to the 16 year old. Besides, this was in the afternoon, not in the middle of the night. Why was the 16 year old at home and why would he assume that his younger brother wouldn't be arriving home after school. Nobody wins and everybody loses.

- Celtica455 , santa fe, United States, 24/3/2013 17:43

Click to rate Rating 20

- Aly, Expat living in the, United States, 24/3/2013 9:40 :****************** Hmmm, tried having a beer in the street, or on the beach? Tried buying a beer without ID (my Dad was refused at 70 years old)? Tried betting a couple of bucks on your favorite sport? Tried crossing the street not at a crosswalk? Tried riding a bicycle without a helmet? Tried tinting all the windows in your new car? I could go on, but all the above are not allowed in many parts of America. We're not as "free" as you claim. I guess you have citizenship coming up.

- justcradd , San Diego, 24/3/2013 17:34

Click to rate Rating 13

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.