PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A neighborhood near the iconic Max's Cheesesteak in North Philadelphia was rattled Saturday after a 10-year-old accidentally shot himself with a gun he found in his home.
Authorities said the young boy and his 8-year-old sister were alone at their home near Broad Street and Erie Avenue. According to Capt. Lee Strollo, the children found a gun in a cabinet in their home.
"At some point the child discharged the weapon into his own head," Strollo said. The boy's sister ran to a neighbor's house for help. Police received the call just before 6 p.m. When they arrived on scene, they found the boy wounded.
The 10-year-old was rushed to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, where he was pronounced dead shortly after.
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As neighbors walked by and learned the news, they were shaken by the tragedy.
"I feel bad, that's our children," said Willie Porter. "I hate to see this violence. This is a good neighborhood. We watch out for each other, basically."
Strollo said investigators are trying to determine the identity of the gun's owner.
"Another one of our precious children has died as the result of gunfire," said Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw in a statement. "As a community, we must all strive to do better in keeping guns out of the hands of our kids."