A four-year-old girl has died after being shot by her three-year-old sister after she got hold of a loaded semi-automatic pistol.
The two sisters were home in an apartment with five adults, including their mum and stepdad, but each one thought another was looking after the girls, local Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.
The tragic incident, which is believed to have been an accident, happened at an apartment block in Harris County, Texas, not far from Houston, US.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gonzalez said: "It just seems like another tragic story of a child gaining access to a firearm and hurting someone else. This time it was a fatal shot - appears to be to her sibling."
He also urged anyone with guns to ensure they're stored where kids cannot reach them, especially with the holidays coming up and more kids being at home.
Gonzalez continued: "You've got to make sure you're a responsible gun owner. Secure your weapons in a safe place. It's got to be more than just to tell the kids not to touch the weapons."
At this stage it is unclear if anyone will face charges over it.
Nearly 1,300 children younger than 18 years of age die from shootings every year in the US.
According to Nationwide Childrens, in 16 per cent of cases of accidental firearm deaths among children younger than 13 the gun was mistaken for a toy.
Gun-wielding children have been in the news recently after a six-year-old brought a gun into school and shot his teacher.
Abigail Zwerner, 25, was teaching at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, US, on January 6 when the child fired one shot at her.
The heroic teacher managed to get 20 students out of the classroom before getting help after suffering wounds to her chest and hand.
She was admitted to hospital for two weeks following the shooting.
But despite Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew describing the shooting as intentional, the boy will not face charges.
Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn said the "prospect that a six-year-old can stand trial is problematic" as the pupil is a child and wouldn't understand the legal system.
In addition, he said the child wouldn't be able to assist his lawyer and believes there is no legal base to charge the boy.
