16-year-old Kearns boy dies when shotgun he and his brother were playing with goes off

Police are investigating the gunshot death of a 16-year-old Kearns boy — an incident that appears to be accidental.

Authorities were called to a home near 5000 West and 5400 South shortly after 8 a.m. on Monday, according to Unified Police spokeswoman Sgt. Melody Gray. They found the boy dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

“It looks like a tragic accident. He and his brother were playing with a shotgun,” Gray said. “He had the gun in his hands when it went off. They apparently thought it was not loaded.”

The victim’s name has not been released. His 17-year-old brother was not injured.