Michael Lee died instantly from a .22-caliber rifle bullet to the head, Blair County Coroner Patty Ross said.
The 9-year-old didn’t intend to hurt Michael, Ross said.
City firefighters and AMED workers tried to resuscitate the boy, Ross said.
The shooting occurred in an attic, where the kids were alone — although they weren’t alone in the house, Ross said.
Michael was visiting because of his connection with one member of a couple, whose other member was connected with the boy who fired the shot.
The couple was planning to marry.
An autopsy will be conducted today to verify the bullet’s trajectory, Ross said.
Ross didn’t disclose the name of the shooter or the address of the house where the shooting occurred.
City police confirmed that the shooting happened in Altoona but didn’t answer further questions, pending a detective meeting with Ross on the case.
Ross pronounced Michael dead at the scene and ruled the shooting accidental.
The gun didn’t belong to the owner of the house, as far as Ross knows.
Ross hopes that charges might be filed against those who allowed the conditions to occur that led to the accident.
‘‘Kids are curious creatures with no understanding of death and life,’’ she said. Even when ordered not to touch, a gun can be attractive, ‘‘like a bowl of candy,’’ she said.
The mother of the victim came later from Mifflin County to see the body of the child, Ross said.
Authorities called for counselors to come to the house where the shooting occurred.
The incident is the third accidental shooting involving children this year.
In August, Taylor D.G. Batzel, 11, of Cumberland County died in Altoona after being shot by a cousin about the same age.
Also in August, 9-year-old Zack Alvarez of the Ebensburg area died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.
