LITHIA, Fla. — A 15-year-old died after being found shot in a home Friday afternoon, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
During a press conference, HCSO said the shooting happened shortly after 4 p.m. in a Tampa police officer's home.
Deputies said the 15-year-old was inside the home with three other teens, whose ages range from 15 to 16, when he was shot in his upper body.
EMS transported the teen, who is not related to the Tampa officer, to a local hospital where he died.
HCSO said, at this time, it is unknown if the shooting was accidental or if the gun belonged to the Tampa officer.
"It's a tragedy because it could have been prevented," Captain Preston Hollis said during the presser. "Anytime we have, unfortunately, one of these events it's a great time to talk about gun safety and firearm safety. Usually you don't want to assume anything, but with guns you always want to assume they are loaded."
