ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An 11-year-old boy remembered for his love of football died from his injuries after he was shot by his brother Friday in St. Petersburg's Childs Park neighborhood.
Amir Williams was at home with his two siblings when the shooting happened at a home on 43rd Street South near 14th Avenue South, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department.
Officers responded to the home around 12:15 p.m.
"I'll just be blunt, this is a community tragedy," St. Petersburg Police Assistant Chief Mike Kovacsev said. Investigators said the children, who were out of school because it was not in session, had access to a firearm that had recently been found.
"We have an 11-year-old child that sustained a gunshot wound...at home with two siblings. Access to firearms has been something we've been going over and over again within this police department for the last couple years — and it continues to be a problem."
Two siblings inside the home, aged 13 and 14, were with Williams, Kovacsev said. The older teen told investigators he accidentally shot the younger boy while playing with the gun.
He claimed it was found in an alley; the family had no idea the weapon was inside the home, Kovacsev said. The assistant chief added that charges are possible in the case but that will not likely happen today.
Police learned the gun was reported stolen on April 24 in St. Petersburg.
The boy's sister, 13-year-old Zy'cariyah Williams, said Amir Williams enjoyed playing football and was "full of joy and spirit."
"I love him so much," she said.
The siblings called their mother to tell them about the shooting and while en route to the home, she got into a crash on Interstate 275, Kovacsev said. She was able to take a rideshare to the scene.