NATCHEZ — The handgun fired by 18-year-old Preston Bostic in the accidental killing of his younger brother was a stolen weapon, Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said.

Investigators on the case recently concluded the weapon was stolen from a local pawnshop, and Bostic received an additional charge Friday of possession of a stolen firearm in reference to the 9 mm handgun that delivered the fatal bullet.

Bostic was arrested Sunday for negligent manslaughter after confessing to accidentally shooting his 13-year-old brother, Juwayni Bostic, at their house Sunday morning.

Preston told investigators his deceased brother, Juwayni, had stolen the gun.

Mayfield said a sibling of Preston and the deceased told investigators during an interview that the gun in question had been hidden in a refrigerator in the backyard of the residence at 73-A Pinemount Road.

Mayfield said he believes Preston or one of the siblings hid the gun because they knew it was stolen.

Investigators noticed someone attempted to scratch the serial number off the weapon, and Preston eventually confessed to investigators that his deceased brother, Juwayni, recently stole the gun.

Preston learned his brother stole the gun the morning of the shooting, Mayfield said.

Mayfield said no reports of a stolen gun were made to the sheriff’s office, probably because the owners had probably not noticed it was missing.

Preston was apparently “playing around” when the incident occurred and told investigators he did not know the gun was loaded, Mayfield said.

Mayfield said the gun’s magazine contained more bullets when investigators found it.

A bond of $25,000 for the weapon charge was added to Preston’s existing manslaughter bond, giving him a $275,000 bond.

Mayfield said the six-day investigation is now closed and case files have been delivered to the county prosecutor for justice court and the district attorney’s office.

Mayfield said the case will likely be heard by a grand jury soon.

Funeral services for Juwayni are set for 1 p.m. today at Pilgrim Baptist Church. Mayfield said Preston will attend his brother’s funeral under the escort of sheriff’s deputies.