A dad is in mourning today after he accidentally shot dead his 10-year-old son while he was cleaning his gun in the family's living room.
Christopher Stanlane, 34, was sitting on the couch in his home in Fairmont, North Carolina, U.S., wiping down the weapon when it went off at around 4 p.m. on Sunday, blasting his son, Christopher Stanlane, Jr, who was watching television. A bullet hit the boy in the back of the head.
The boy's uncle, Robert Simmons, told Carolinalive.com: "He was careful with it. I don't think he meant to hold it in that direction.
"There must have been a bullet lodged in the chamber and it fired and hit him."
His wife, who had been making dinner when the tragedy happened, called 911. Paramedics arrived at the home and pronounced the child dead on scene.
No charges have been brought but the Robeson County District Attorney will ultimately decide what if any charges will be filed against the father.
Mr Simmons said the parents are in shock, trying to come to terms with what happened.
"She's hanging in there, she's not as best as she could be right now because she lost her son," he said.
"And the dad, he's in shock, don't really know what's happened right now."
Mr Simmons said little Christopher would be sorely missed by the family.
"He was a good little boy. He was my little buddy. More than words could ever say to describe how we will miss him, it's just an unbelievable tragedy," he said.