NATCHEZ — A 13-year-old boy was shot to death Sunday morning at his house in the northern part of Adams County when his older brother apparently accidentally pulled the trigger.

Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said Juwayni Bostick, 13, was found dead with a single gunshot wound to his lower forehead at approximately 10:30 a.m. at 73-A Pinemount Road.

Mayfield said Preston Bostock, 18, who lived at the Pinemount Road house, was booked at the county jail at 5 p.m. Sunday after confessing he accidentally shot his younger brother at their house.

Preston was charged with negligent manslaughter.

Mayfield said dispatchers received a call from a 16-year-old girl at 10:22 a.m., who claimed her brother was shot dead by a bullet that flew from a passing car.

When investigators arrived at the scene, Preston, his sister who made the call and three other siblings ages 17, 14 and 10 told investigators the shot came from a car outside the house.

Based on evidence at the crime scene, including traces of blood and positioning of the body, Adams County Sheriff’s deputies determined the shot came from inside the house, Mayfield said.

Mayfield said investigators separated the siblings and interviewed them individually, and Preston eventually confessed to shooting his brother.

“According to what was said, the 13-year-old victim was walking out of the bedroom, Preston had the gun and he said it ‘just went off’,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield said Preston continually repeated during interviews that the gun “just went off.”

Mayfield said he believes Preston and the juvenile siblings told investigators a contradictory story because they were afraid.

No description of a vehicle or person

a vehicle in the original story was provided by anyone on the scene.

Preston was booked after an all-day investigation. Mayfield said the investigation is still incomplete, and it is possible more arrests will be made or more charges filed.

No adults other than the 18-year-old suspect were at the house when the shooting occurred. Mayfield said he was unsure where the parents of the children were during the time of the shooting. He said they arrived on the scene much later.

Investigators found the 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun allegedly used in the shooting hidden in a refrigerator in the backyard. The gun was recovered for evidence, but ballistic tests have not yet been run to officially connect the gun to the victim’s wound, although Preston allegedly confessed it was the gun he accidentally fired at his brother.

Both his mother and Preston claimed to own the gun, Mayfield said.

No bond has been set for the alleged suspect; Preston will be arraigned today.

The maximum sentence for manslaughter is 20 years in prison.

Mayfield said the incident is a reminder to secure guns in a location where underage people cannot gain access to them.

“Eighteen-year-olds are not supposed to have handguns, anyway,” Mayfield said.

“This appears to be just a tragedy for all concerned.”