JENNINGS, Mo. (KMOX) – A nine-year old boy was hospitalized in stable condition, after police say his ten-year old brother accidentally shot him while they were home alone playing with a gun.

It happened around one in the afternoon Monday in the 5500 block of Albia Terrace, a neighborhood of tidy ranch houses just east of Norwood Hills Country Club.

Police say the injured boy is expected to survive and there will be no charges against the ten-year old brother.

Older brother taken to police headquarters for questioning

A relative says at first the boys tried to “cover up” what had happened by giving the 9-year old boy a bath. It’s not clear who finally called 9-1-1.

Police say the gun was in the home and belonged to a relative. Detectives are still investigating whether it was properly stowed away, or whether the parents might face child endangerment charges for leaving the kids home alone with the gun around.

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