8-year-old accidentally shoots, kills brother as family flees Idalia in Tallahassee

A 14-year-old was accidentally shot and killed in what police say was a "tragic situation" at the Suburban Extended Stay on Silver Slipper Lane.

The family from Perry was staying in Tallahassee seeking refuge from Hurricane Idalia's path when the incident happened just after 1 a.m. Friday. While the storm's wrath largely spared Tallahassee, the Category 3 hurricane cut a path of destruction through Taylor County and the Big Bend's Nature Coast.

The boy's 8-year-old brother was playing with a gun when he unintentionally fired the weapon, according to a Tallahassee Police Department incident alert. Both TPD and the Tallahassee Fire Department responded to the incident.

"Officers immediately began rendering life-saving aid until Emergency Medical Services arrived," a TPD spokesperson wrote. "The victim was transported to the hospital where he sadly succumbed to his injuries."

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing however, there are no charges at this time, TPD said.

Firearm safety at home: 5 tips to keep your kids safe with guns in the house

So far this year, there have been 1,095 unintentional shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Every year, 19,000 kids ages 1 to 19 are shot and killed or wounded in the country, according to Everytown for Gun Safety Research.

Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on Twitter @elenabarreraaa.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Boy accidentally shoots brother in Tallahassee as family flees Idalia