In a disturbing incident that unfolded during an American football practice at the Northwest Recreation Complex in central Florida, an 11-year-old boy accessed an unsecured firearm from his mother’s vehicle, resulting in the shooting of two 13-year-olds, as reported by BBC on Tuesday.

Both victims, who were struck by the same bullet, are now in stable condition. One underwent surgery after being shot in the torso, while the other sustained injuries to the arm. The young attacker now faces a charge of attempted second-degree murder.

Apopka police chief Mike McKinley expressed his concern during a press conference on Tuesday morning, denouncing the incident as deeply troubling. He emphasized the urgent need to address the issue of children gaining access to firearms, emphasizing that such incidents were becoming all too frequent, with the age of those involved seemingly decreasing.

McKinley also pointed out that this incident was markedly different from the occasional disputes that occur between parents at youth sports events. The altercation, which initially transpired during a Pop Warner football practice, escalated from the sports facility to the parking lot. It was there that the young assailant retrieved the firearm from his mother’s car.

Police officers arrived at the scene within approximately four minutes, shortly after 20:20 local time. One of the victims, who had been shot in the arm, was treated and released from the hospital the same night, while the other victim, who sustained a gunshot wound to the torso, remains in stable condition following surgery. The circumstances leading to the initial altercation remain unclear. Pop Warner, a prominent youth football, cheerleading, and dance organization, was the backdrop against which this shocking incident occurred.