HUMBLE, Texas – The death of a 13-year-old boy inside his Humble home on Sunday is raising serious questions about firearm safety.
According to law enforcement, the teen died from a gunshot wound while family members were inside the home. Two other juveniles were also present at the time.
READ MORE: 13-year-old boy shot and killed inside Harris County apartment, sheriff’s office says
As investigators work to piece together what happened—and as the victim’s family and friends search for answers—Spring Branch ISD Police Chief Larry Baimbridge says the focus must be on prevention.
“A child having access to a weapon is very preventable, and there are steps that need to be taken to ensure that doesn’t happen,” Baimbridge said.
When asked by 2 Investigates what those steps should look like, Baimbridge didn’t hesitate.
“Well, obviously make sure that if you do have a weapon in the house, it’s secure—that it’s locked up, ideally with the ammunition stored separately,” he said.
The issue of prevention came up during a daily newsroom meeting. As the father of a 13-year-old boy, I shared a question I asked the father of my son’s friend when my child was invited to his home for the first time.
“The father of the boy still remembers what I asked: ‘Do you have a gun in the house?’” said Shawn Sidoti.
Until Monday, we had never fully discussed that moment.
“It was a little odd at first,” Sidoti said. “And then we thought about it, and it was a great question. We understood it.”
When asked how much benefit there is in asking a question like that before a child goes to another home, Sidoti responded quickly.
“That’s a great question,” he said. “It’s not one you think about off the top of your head unless you’re having these types of discussions. But there’s a chance you don’t realize you should have asked it until it’s too late. That’s why it’s a good question.”
Baimbridge says those uncomfortable conversations—asked before a playdate and rooted in concern for all children involved—are preventive measures he rarely hears about, but ones he believes are vital.
“Taking those uncomfortable steps can prevent an entire lifetime of regret,” Baimbridge said.
He also emphasized that parents should be aware of state laws outlined in the Texas Penal Code, which can hold adults criminally accountable if a child gains access to a loaded firearm due to a failure to properly secure it.
Sunday’s shooting was one of multiple incidents involving children and firearms across the Houston area over the weekend.