Christopher Behnan

Lansing State Journal

LANSING – Grief counselors were available today at Lansing's Pattengill Academy to help classmates deal with the loss of a 13-year-old boy who died Sunday afternoon after accidentally shooting himself Friday.

Branden Bernard Holbert accidentally shot himself in the head about 1 p.m. Friday on Ada Street in the Baker-Donora area, Lansing police Public Information Officer Robert Merritt said.

Details, including where the boy got the gun, were not released. Police will investigate further, Merritt said.

Branden was a sixth-grader at Pattengill, Lansing school officials said.

School officials don't know why he was not in school on Friday, district spokesman Robert Kolt said

"The entire Lansing school District family is devastated by the death of (Branden), the district said on its website. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Branden's family."

Neighbors said the boy's family had just moved to the neighborhood off Baker Street, west of South Pennsylvania Avenue, a couple of months ago.