SPRING, Texas – A family is grieving after they said an accidental shooting left a teenager dead in northwest Harris County.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened around 11 p.m. Monday in the Spring area near Elmley Place and Alderly Drive.
Two 16-year-olds were playing with a gun when it accidentally went off and shot one of the teens, deputies said.
Deputies said Daniel Evans was killed in the shooting.
According to Floyd Ratcliffe, the boys' uncle, the teens were cousins and students at Klein Oak High School. He said they were so close they were like brothers.
Ratcliffe said he was asleep when he heard a pop followed by what sounded like someone or something falling, that's when his nephew came out and said he accidentally shot Evans.
“We didn’t even know they had the gun in the house," Ratcliffe said. "I was laying down, sleep(ing) and I hear a pop and a tumble, so that was (Evans) falling. It was around 11 p.m. We've been sitting in the police car since 11 p.m."
Evans' mother told KPRC2 she was at the hospital with someone else when she got the call about the shooting.
Both Ratcliffe and Evans' mother said they do not know where the teens got the gun.
The Klein Oak Independent School District released a statement about the incident:
The Klein Oak and Klein ISD families continue to mourn the loss of one of our students who died unexpectedly overnight in an off-campus incident.
The Klein ISD Critical Incident Response Team was on campus today and will continue to be available to support our students and staff during this difficult time.
This tragic loss touches the hearts of many in our community. We will continue to reach out to support the family and to respect their privacy as they grieve. If we learn of ways that the community can assist the family, this information will be shared.
Evans' mother said he had just started at the school in the spring and basketball was his passion.