Police: Boys' fight over food may have sparked murder-suicide


Police are still investigating what prompted a 13-year-old boy to shoot and kill his 6-year-old brother, and wound his 16-year-old brother before turning the gun on himself.

But officials with the Pasco County sheriff's department believe the whole incident may started somehow over a fight over food Wednesday night, The Associated Press reported. 

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Police said in a news conference Thursday that the 16 and 13 year olds were preparing food when the argument broke out Bay News 9 in Tampa reported.

Police did not go into detail over the exact argument, but after the fight, the 13-year-old got a handgun, officials said, killed the younger brother, shot the older one then killed himself.  

CNN reported the oldest of the four brothers, who is 18, as well as the boys' mother, were not home at the time.

Meanwhile, WFLA reported grief counselors were  at the boys' schools to help classmates and teachers who were rocked by the news.

School Superintendent Kurt Browning spoke with the 6-year-old's teacher, telling WFLA that "Obviously she was very emotional, very upset. Crying, as I would be crying. And as I was talking to her fighting tears back myself.  I don't know these kids, but I will tell you as superintendent, it's hard not to have these, my kids."

The district also sent out a release saying that most of the students in the kids' classes were doing well.  

Classmates in the youngest brother's class were told that something "very sad" happened, WFLA reported.