Thirteen-year-old Zain Hussein Mezher of Moorhead, Minnesota, died from a single gunshot wound on June 23, 2023. The shooting occurred about 6 p.m. in a wooded area near the 1000 block of 19th Street South, close to Romkey Park. First responders attempted life-saving measures, but Zain was pronounced dead at the scene.

Zain was with a group of juveniles who had acquired a handgun and were handling it when it discharged, fatally striking him. The Moorhead Police Department recovered the handgun and opened an investigation with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Clay County Attorney’s Office. Authorities interviewed the juvenile responsible for the shooting; no arrests were immediately made and the Clay County Attorney’s Office will decide whether charges are appropriate after the investigation concludes. The Moorhead Police described the incident as a tragic accident. A GoFundMe was set up to help the family with funeral expenses.

How did the group obtain the handgun, and can anyone who was there or has information about how the weapon changed hands come forward?