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Minnesota teen fatally shoots boy, 5, while making video for social media

BROOKLYN, PARK, Minn. — A Minnesota teen fatally shot a 5-year-old boy at a residence Thursday while handling a gun to make a video for social media, authorities said.

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The 13-year-old was arrested Friday morning, the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis reported. The teen was related to the younger child but the two were not siblings, Brooklyn Park Deputy Chief Mark Bruley told the newspaper.

Bruley said in a news release that the shooting occurred at about 10:19 p.m. CST in Brooklyn Park. Officers responding to the scene found the child had been shot in the head, KARE-TV reported.

Life-saving efforts were unsuccessful, Bruley said.

An initial investigation found that the 13-year-old and several other juveniles were handling a gun to make the video, which was going to be posted to social media, the Star-Tribune reported. At some point, the 13-year-old accidentally fired the gun, Bruley said.

Another 13-year-old, an 8-year-old and another 5-year-old also were in the room, the newspaper reported. Police may pursue charges if they find the owner of the gun did not properly lock it up, Bruley told the Star-Tribune.

“This is a very unfortunate accident that requires a very detailed investigation, which is ongoing right now,” Bruley told reporters. “Lock them (guns) up and lock the ammo up separate.

“We as adults, it’s our obligation to make sure [kids] don’t have access to them.”

The child is the fifth person who has been fatally shot in Brooklyn Park this year, according to the Star-Tribune.