Teen Charged in Brother’s Accidental Shooting

A 17-year-old St. Louis man has been charged in his younger brother's accidental shooting after initially telling police the victim was wounded in a drive-by.

Police say William Malik Pearson Jr. was playing with a handgun when he shot his brother in the leg Wednesday. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Pearson has been charged with third-degree assault, endangering the welfare of a child and making a false report.

The shooting happened as Pearson was loading a bullet into the gun's chamber.