DETROIT, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A girl, 4, found a loaded rifle under a bed and accidentally shot and killed her cousin, a 4-year-old boy, Detroit police said.

The two children were playing in the bedroom of a home Thursday afternoon when the girl found the rifle, which was not locked in a case, the Detroit Free Press reported.


The girl pointed the gun and pulled the trigger.

Police were called to the home at 4:50 p.m. The boy was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators said one adult, the children's grandfather, was home at the time of the shooting.

It was unclear whether any charges would be brought, police Capt. Rodney Cox said.

"This is an example of how we must maintain gun safety," Cox said.

Sgt. Michael Woody, a police spokesman, appealed to residents to keep guns unloaded, locked up and out of children's reach.