14-year-old boy charged with murder after allegedly shooting 8-year-old brother

HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (TCD) -- A 14-year-old boy was taken into custody after he allegedly shot and killed his younger brother over the weekend.

According to KETK-TV, which cites a Henderson County Sheriff’s Office press release, deputies responded to a home near County Road 2911 on Jan. 29 at 6:20 p.m. because a young child had been shot in the head. Deputies located the 8-year-old boy on the back porch with other juveniles around him.

Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said a 14-year-old, 7-year-old, and the 8-year-old — all males — were reportedly home alone when "they heard a gunshot and then the 8-year-old collapsed." Hillhouse said investigators were initially informed that the victim, whom they identified as Zayden Worley, was "on the back porch looking at some deer" when the siblings "heard a gunshot and Zayden fell," KETK reports.

KLTV-TV, also citing the press release, reports investigators spoke with neighbors for leads because they were allegedly told "a stray bullet from a wooded area struck the child." Hillhouse said after the autopsy, they concluded there was "no possible way a stray bullet could have caused this."

The children were reportedly alone at their grandparents' house when the shooting happened.

According to KETK, Hillhouse said the autopsy and evidence gathered from the scene "show the initial report of how this happened is not possible." Investigators reportedly found a small-caliber handgun that matched the autopsy report. Deputies arrested the 14-year-old sibling for murder following conversations with neighbors.

Tyler Morning Telegraph reports Zayden died at Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

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