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Tempe police: Teen girl killed by family member in accidental shooting

Posted at 10:14 PM, Jul 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-26 15:20:26-04

Police are investigating after a teenage girl was killed in an accidental shooting Monday night.

Officers responded to a home near University Avenue and Rural Road around 9:30 p.m. Police said a man, a family member, was handling a gun when it fired, hitting 16-year-old Marlen Hernandez in the face.

Hernandez was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said, but she was later pronounced dead.

Tempe police said the investigation revealed the handgun belonged to the victim's brother-in-law, 23-year-old Emmanuel Hilerio.

According to police, Hernandez was handling the gun and Hilerio attempted to get the gun from her and accidentally discharged the weapon.

Hilerio was arrested and is being charged with manslaughter.

Tempe police said all evidence is consistent with being a tragic incident.

ABC15 spoke with a classmate at the scene who says Hernandez went to McClintock High School.  

Stay with ABC15, abc15.com, and ABC15 Mobile for updates.