JENNINGS • A 9-year-old boy survived a gunshot to the back fired by his 10-year-old brother Monday afternoon while they were home alone in Jennings, police said.

The wounded boy was hospitalized and was expected to recover, officials said. Police took his older brother from the home in the 5500 block of Albia Terrace to be questioned.

St. Louis County police Lt. Jeff Fuesting said the handgun the boy fired belonged to a relative, but he would not elaborate. Police said an investigation continues and that charges might be filed against the relative.

Police called the shooting an accident.

Fuesting said the older boy shot his brother while they were in a bedroom and then took him into a bathroom to clean up the wound.

Fuesting said he did not know what led to the shooting. Police seized the handgun.

"It's really important, imperative for parents, if they do have firearms inside their residence that they do secure those firearms correctly and properly," Fuesting said.

The boys' great-uncle Joe Jefferson, 41, of Woodson Terrace, said the boys' aunt had been watching them Monday but left them alone for 10 to 15 minutes to pay a bill.

Jefferson, who spoke to reporters outside the home Monday afternoon, said the wounded boy was at St. Louis Children's Hospital. He said the boy will recover but warned that the shooting is a reminder to parents about mixing children and guns.

"There's no such thing as a responsible 10-year-old" around guns, he said.

A man who answered the phone at the home Monday evening declined to comment.