ELKHART, Texas — Police in eastern Texas are investigating what they called a tragic accident after an 8-year-old boy shot and killed a female family member on Saturday afternoon.

The boy was with Josh Morris, who was cleaning weapons, when he picked up a rifle, Anderson County, Texas Sheriff Greg Taylor said. The gun accidentally discharged in the child’s hand with the bullet going through a closed door, hitting Josh’s wife, Carmen Danielle Morris, 23, of Elkhart, Texas in the head.

Deputies responded to the scene Saturday afternoon, and Carmen Morris was transported to a medical center in nearby Palestine, Texas. She was later flown to Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler, Texas where she died on Sunday. 

According to Tyler, the boy who fired the weapon is not the Morrises’ child. Child Protective Services was called to investigate because there were two other children inside the house at the time of the shooting. Deputies interviewed Josh Morris, Taylor said.

While the sheriff is not releasing additional details on the child who fired the gun, the boy was Carmen Morris’ 8-year-old brother, according to his mother Tammie Johnson.

According to authorities, deputies continue to investigate the incident but believe it’s nothing more than a tragic accident at this time, like so many others in states across the country.

While the exact numbers are difficult to determine, at least 256 people were injured or killed in accidental shooting incidents involving children under age 18 in 2015, as reported by The Washington Post.

Josh Morris kept guns locked away in a safe and taught his children about gun safety, Johnson said. The couple was very outgoing and loving to the community, including the Morris’ 2-year-old and 5-year-old boys.

Carmen Morris was the “happiest person to be around and always giggling and laughing about anything,” said Johnson.

Friends of the young woman are putting together a local bake sale this week to help with funeral costs and benefit the family.

Sheridan writes for the Palestine, Texas Herald-Press.