The Meridian Police Department has a 15-year-old brother in custody following a Friday shooting that injured his 14-year-old sister.

The girl suffered serious injuries in the 11:50 a.m. shooting at the family’s home in the Western Garden apartment complex and had to be transported to Jackson for treatment, Sgt. Dareall Thompson, with the Meridian Police Department, said.

“It’s a hard time for the family,” Thompson said. “They’re brother and sister but she’s in Jackson and he’s here in custody. It’s a tough case and we’re trying to give them a little privacy.”

Thompson said detectives hadn’t yet determined whether to charge the brother with aggravated assault, let a grand jury decide or not press any charges in the case. 

The mother of the children didn’t own a gun, Thompson said. 

Thompson urged safe practices when handling a firearm to the public. 

“You treat a gun like it’s loaded every time,” Thompson. “And you never point a gun at anybody. You handle it with care.”

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