14-year-old playing with gun kills younger brother, Florida cops say. Now he’s charged

A 14-year-old Florida boy is facing a second-degree manslaughter charge in the killing of his 11-year-old brother, according to court records.

The suspect was arrested Monday, May 27, nearly a month after Amir Williams was fatally shot at a St. Petersburg home, according to police.

The killing happened around 12:15 p.m. on Friday, April 26, at a single-family home in the 1400 block of 43rd Street S., St. Petersburg police said in a news release.

“There was no school (that day) and Amir was home with his 14-year-old brother and 13-year-old sister,” police said. “The 14-year-old brother admitted he was playing with the gun and accidentally shot his 11-year-old brother.”

The victim died at the scene, police say.

Investigators determined the gun had been reported stolen April 24 in St. Petersburg.

The 14-year-old told detectives he found the gun and his family was unaware he had it, WFTS reported.

“It wasn’t an accidental self-inflicted, unfortunately, it goes back to the fact, a teenager should not have had a firearm,” St. Petersburg police Assistant Chief Michael Kovacsev told WFTS. “He was playing around with a firearm and it discharged.”

The 14-year-old is also charged with being a delinquent in possession of a firearm and felony tampering with an electronic monitoring device, records show.

This story was originally published May 31, 2024 at 1:01 PM with the headline "14-year-old playing with gun kills younger brother, Florida cops say. Now he’s charged."