According to police a witness says Deleon Alonso Smith, 19, believed the gun was unloaded at the time

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A Houston teenager believed to have been taking selfies while holding a gun was killed when it went off and a bullet struck him.

The 19-year-old was at an apartment in the city on Tuesday afternoon when the weapon fired, hitting him in the throat.

Media reports named the man as Deleon Alonso Smith, who had two young children and had been scheduled to start college on Wednesday.

“It’s the worst feeling in my life,” his uncle, Eric Douglas, told KPRC local news.

“It’s a numb feeling. It’s still unbelievable. Yesterday was my birthday and he came to wish me happy birthday, and now this kind of news,” Smith’s grandmother, Alma Douglas, told the station.

Houston police said in a statement on Wednesday the man was found “in a bedroom of an apartment”. Paramedics then pronounced him deceased.

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“According to a witness, the victim was handling a gun he believed to be unloaded. The gun then discharged and the victim was struck in the upper body. The investigation is continuing, with no charges filed at this time.”

Last year, a 21-year-old died in Mexico City after pointing a loaded gun at his head for a Facebook photo. The firearm discharged, killing him.

In May this year a 21-year-old Russian woman was seriously wounded after accidentally shooting herself while posing for a selfie.

In July, Russian police produced a safety guide after a reported 10 deaths and 100 accidents in the country this year, caused by people taking selfies in dangerous situations.