A 10-year-old boy is in critical condition after police said his brother accidentally shot him in the head Monday.
Channel 2 Action News was at the scene of the shooting at the Windward Forest Apartments in Lithonia, where family members were shocked and worried.
"My heart dropped. That's a family member. That's a family member, so my heart dropped," Tremaine Cash said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">10 y/o boy in critical condition after accidental shooting. Working to get more details for 4 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wsbtv?src=hash">#wsbtv</a> <a href="http://t.co/CbjyjnS2S4">pic.twitter.com/CbjyjnS2S4</a></p>— Aaron Diamant (@AaronDiamantWSB) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronDiamantWSB/status/610520049217064961"></a></blockquote>
Cash said he got word that his 10-year-old cousin DeShawn Beedles had been critically injured in the shooting and rushed to the apartment complex.
"I heard the call, I just hung up. I just got here and when I got here all this was all here," Cash said.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2’s Carl Wills learned the boy’s brother, 24-year-old Tydrerris Cash, was charged with reckless conduct, tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and cruelty to children.
Police say Cash was handling the gun when it went off.
DeKalb police said they got the call just after 1 p.m., and that so far, all signs point to the shooting being accidental.
"He's a fun kid. He likes to play sports, likes to rap and he just wants to be a normal kid. That's all he wants to be,” Cash said of Beedles.
Family members told Channel 2 investigative reporter Aaron Diamant that Beedles is a rising fourth grader.
Police confirmed Beedles’ adult brother and 7-year-old nephew were inside the apartment when the gun went off.
"We're interviewing the other two that were in the home when it took place. We're trying to determine exactly what happened that led up to the discharge of this firearm," DeKalb Police Capt. Steve Fore said.
"Nobody wants to see anyone injured like that, especially when it comes to children it makes it that much worse," Fore said.
Police said they have recovered the gun and that the shooting should serve as an important reminder.
"If you're going to have weapons in the home, you need to practice gun ownership,” Fore said. “Those weapons should be secured, as well as the ammunition, out of the reach of children."
WSBTV
