TOMBALL – Authorities are investigating the death of a 16-year-old who was shot to death in a Tomball barn early Monday morning.
Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 19900 block of Stone Creek Court just before 3:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a shooting.
When deputies arrived, they found the teen unresponsive inside the barn. EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.
Five teenage boys were reportedly handling a gun in the barn, when it discharged and shot the victim in the abdomen. The sheriff’s office told KPRC 2 that the victim’s brother, 17, fired the gun.
Later Monday, the sheriff’s office said it was determined the teenagers had been drinking and handling several guns. The victim’s brother, identified as Rhyder Tettleton, allegedly told authorities he pointed what he thought was an unloaded pistol at his brother and pulled the trigger.
The gun discharged a round, which struck Tettleton’s brother. Tettleton was arrested and is charged with manslaughter.
The sheriff’s office said their parents were not at home at the time the shooting happened.
The HCSO’s Homicide Division is leading the investigation, which remains ongoing. The four other teens were detained and interviewed by detectives.
The identity of the victim has not been released.
Early this morning, @HCSOTexas deputies responded to a report of a male shot at the 19923 blk of Stone Creek Ct. Upon arrival, units found a male teen (16) with a gunshot wound. The male was pronounced deceased at
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) November 25, 2024
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