Child Fatally Shot

A family in Penns Grove, N.J., tries to deal with the death of an 8-year-old boy, apparently shot accidentally by his own cousin.

"He was one of the fastest runners on the team," said Leah Lewis, the victim's aunt. "He made the newspapers."

Christian Lewis, a child everyone called Dean, was shot in his grandmother's house Sunday night in the Salem County community, police said.

He had gone upstairs with two cousins to play. Family members said that's where the boys found a relative's handgun.

Police said the 12-year-old cousin accidentally pulled the trigger.

On Monday, the Lewis family was mourning the loss of one child, while trying to support the child police said shot him.

The boy's grandmother said the older cousin was in shock.

"He was out of it. He just, he hasn't eaten anything. He didn't want to go upstairs by himself," said Hannah Lewis.

At the boy's school, the flag was flying at half-staff Monday.

"Some children were crying … or confused," said Dr. Joseph Massare, the school superintendent. "

"A lot of people look at it as being a tragedy, and don't think it will happen to then," said Leah Lewis. "To hear it on the news. They read it in the newspaper. But when it hit close to home, that's when reality sinks in."

The gun was owned legally, police said.

No charges have been filed. Police say charges could be filed against the gun's owner for not keeping it out of the hands of children.

The 12-year-old cousin was questioned by police and he was with his family Monday night.

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Author: NBC10