New Mexico teen charged with shooting 8-year-old sister

• Teenager Accused of Shooting His Sister
• What Happened to the Eight-Year-Old Girl?
• Police Investigate the Incident

A 17-year-old teenager has been charged following an incident in which he allegedly accidentally shot his 8-year-old sister in the community of Clayton, New Mexico.

The incident occurred on Tuesday morning at the family home while the siblings were getting ready for school, according to the New Mexico State Police.

According to the police report, the teenager was handling a firearm and, believing it was unloaded, pointed it at his sister and pulled the trigger.

The bullet struck the young girl directly in the head, leaving her critically injured, NBC NEWS reported.

TEENAGER UNDER INVESTIGATION AFTER ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING HIS SISTER IN NEW MEXICO

Immediately, the siblings attempted to help her while one of them called 911 to request emergency assistance.

The young girl was transported to a local hospital and then transferred to a medical facility in Texas due to the severity of her injuries.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Minelys Rodríguez, the Hispanic woman who disappeared in Georgia for seven days, is found dead

Her condition remains critical, authorities confirmed. According to ABC 7, the teenager has been identified as Gio Blan.

New Mexico State Police indicated that after the shooting, the teenager disassembled the firearm and disposed of it in a nearby trash bin.

What Did Authorities Say About the Incident?

Officers were able to recover the firearm during the initial investigation.

However, it remains unclear who owned the gun, as it was not registered to any family members living in the home.

The incident has prompted an investigation to determine how the teenager accessed the firearm and why it was loaded.

Authorities are working to identify the origin of the firearm and whether any additional individuals could face charges related to its possession and safety.

A Surge of Gun-Related Violence

At this time, details regarding the types of charges the teenager may face have not been disclosed, NBC NEWS reported.

However, New Mexico laws and policies on juvenile-related offenses suggest that serious charges could be filed if negligence or recklessness in handling the firearm is proven.

This unfortunate incident has reignited the debate over access to firearms and the importance of safety education for both minors and adults.

As of October 31, approximately 438 mass shootings have been reported, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

To listen to the podcast of this and other news, click on the photo