Great-grandfather arrested after boy accidentally fatally shot his 5-year-old brother

PITT COUNTY, N.C. (TCN) -- A 72-year-old man was arrested after his 5-year-old great-grandson was fatally shot by the boy's 6-year-old sibling.

On the evening of Oct. 8, Pitt County Sheriff's Office deputies received a call about a shooting at a home in Greenville. When they arrived, they reportedly found the little boy with a gunshot wound to the head. EMS transported him to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries. The sheriff's office said detectives concluded in their initial investigation that the boy's sibling shot him accidentally.

The victim was identified as Karter River Rosenboro.

Detectives later arrested the boy's great-grandfather, Rayfield Ruffin, because he owned the gun that was used in the fatal shooting. He was brought into custody for violating a charge of storage of a firearm to protect a minor. He was released after posting $2,000 bond.

According to his obituary, Rosenboro was a "cool dude" who "had a bright beautiful smile, and he had just started to bloom and show his personality." He was starting to learn Spanish and loved macaroni and cheese. His obituary says he had a twin sister who was "always his protector."

The sheriff's office said Rosenboro's death remains under investigation.

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