3-year-old Bakersfield, California girl shoots 2-year-old brother

Police in Bakersfield, California are trying to piece together how a 3-year-old girl was able to accidentally shoot her 2-year-old brother.

It is believed that the girl found a .45 caliber semiautomatic handgun under her parent’s bed Wednesday afternoon and accidentally shot her brother, Ruben Soto III.

The boy was taken to Kern Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

Police are looking into whether the gun was safely and securely stored.

At the time of the shooting, the mother, Cristy Soto, was at home with the children and father, Ruben, was at work.

Neighbors of the Soto’s said that the family moved into the Bakersfield condominium complex several years ago and are friendly people.