Police: 4-Year-Old Shoots 2-Year-Old Brother For Throwing Toy

HOUSTON -- A 2-year-old remained in critical condition Sunday after being shot by his 4-year-old brother, who may not have known the difference between a real and toy gun, police said.

Police Sgt. Cameron Grysen said the boys had been arguing at their home in the 5600 block of Gatewood Ave. in southwest Houston at about 4:20 p.m. Saturday when the 2-year-old threw a toy at his brother.

Grysen said the older boy got the loaded gun from a purse in his mother's bedroom and shot his brother once in the temple. The mother thought the boys had returned to their room, but they had instead gone to her room, where the older boy took the loaded gun from her purse.

"He was coherent enough to tell us what happened and said he shot his brother, but to say there's a difference between a toy gun and that gun, he really doesn't understand that it wasn't a toy," Grysen said.

The toddler was being treated at Ben Taub Hospital.

The mother told police she had the .32-caliber automatic to protect her family because of recent neighborhood burglaries. She said Saturday was the one day that she did not secure the weapon.

Officials said the boy is too young to face criminal charges but the mother could be charged.

Child Protective Services spokeswoman Estella Olguin said CPS had never been called to the home before. The agency has placed the older boy with a grandparent.

Authorities said the 4-year-old didn't seem to understand what he had done.

"He's wondering where his brother is, and when his brother's coming back," Grysen said.