Police in Freer say a 5-year-old girl died after accidentally being struck by a pellet fired from an air rifle.
Police say a 10-year-old male relative of the victim allegedly fired the shot.
Police Chief Roy Salazar says Sarah Salinas died Wednesday after being shot in the chest. She was pronounced dead at a hospital in Alice.
Investigator Ric Ortiz with the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office says the cause of death is a pellet wound penetrating the chest.
Child Protective Services has been notified.
Freer is 80 miles west of Corpus Christi.
Copyright The Associated Press
