A 19-year-old man from Houston, Texas has accidentally killed himself after taking a selfie with a gun.
Deleon Alonso Smith, suffered the fatal blast to the throat a day before he was due to start community college.
The father-of-two was reportedly taking pictures with his cousin before the gun discharged in what appears to have been a tragic accident.
Deleon Alonso Smith fatally killed himself whilst taking a selfie
A police statement read: “According to a witness, the victim was handling a gun he believed to be unloaded.
"The gun then discharged and the victim was struck in the upper body. The investigation is continuing, with no charges filed at this time."
Smith's devastated uncle, Eric Douglas, spoke to local news and said: "It's the worst feeling in my life, it's a numb feeling. It's still unbelievable."
The victims grandmother Alma Douglas told the station: "Yesterday was my birthday and he came to wish me happy birthday, and then to hear this kind of news..."
The pair reportedly found the firearm on the same day of the fatal selfie.
No information has been provided on who may have owned the gun.
SEE ALSO:
Selfie accidents are on the rise and this is not the first fatality linked to the trend.
Last year two people died in a plane crash in Colorado and the US National Transportation Safety Board concluded their attempt to take a selfie during the flight led to the crash.