Tragedy struck on Tuesday afternoon, July 4, in the Walmart parking lot in Choctaw, Oklahoma, when a 14-year-old boy accidentally shot his brother, aged 8, in the chest.

The incident occurred while their mother was inside the store, leaving the siblings alone in the car. Choctaw Police Chief Kelly Marshall confirmed the incident.

Around 2 pm, the older brother found a firearm and unintentionally discharged it, striking his younger sibling. Alerted by the gunshot, bystanders promptly dialed 911. Two police officers arrived at the scene and applied chest seals to the boy’s entry and exit wounds, effectively stopping further bleeding. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the injured child remained conscious and able to communicate.

Initially, there were plans to airlift the victim to a nearby hospital, but emergency responders decided to transport him by ambulance to the University of Oklahoma trauma center instead. Police Chief Marshall confirmed that the boy’s condition is currently stable, though he may require surgery.

Conflicting reports have emerged about the origin of the gun. Some sources suggest that the boys’ father, who was not present during the incident, is an Oklahoma City police officer and that the firearm belonged to him. It has been established that the brothers are related to an employee of the local police department, but it remains uncertain to whom the weapon actually belongs.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.