A four-year-old boy has allegedly shot dead his seven-year-old brother at their Ha’ateiho home.

Police seized a .22 rifle and arrested their 40-year-old father for possession of unlicensed ammunition and firearms.
Tonga Police responded to the shooting incident at the residence at around 6.20pm on Friday, September 2, 2022.
The seven-year-old boy was playing with his four-year-old brother in their family vehicle where they had found the .22 rifle.
When the four-year-old got hold of the gun, he allegedly fired four shots at his seven-year-old brother, which tragically caused his death.
The father had been charged with possession of unlicensed ammunition and other firearm related charges.
“We are reminding firearms licence holders to take their responsibility with safe storage of their firearms seriously. It was only in April last year that an 18-year-old male died from an accidental shooting, and now we have lost another young life in a similar situation that could have been avoided,” the Tongatapu Districts Commander, Chief Superintendent Filipe Fifita said.
Tonga Police is urging the public to help Tonga Police in keeping our communities safe and feel safe by notifying us and or surrendering any unlicensed firearm in their possession.