Houston police say 19-year-old Deleon Alonso Smith was posing with a gun while taking selfies Tuesday when the firearm went off, striking him in the throat and killing him.
According to Click 2 Houston, Smith and his cousin had found the gun earlier in the day and were in an apartment around 1:30 p.m. when Smith began taking photos of himself holding the weapon.
"It's the worst feeling in my life," the victim's uncle Eric Douglas told the news station.
"It's a numb feeling. It's still unbelievable. Yesterday was my birthday and he came to wish me happy birthday, and now this kind of news," Smith's grandmother Alma Douglas said.
Family members told the news station that Smith was set to start college Wednesday and he leaves behind two young children.
Read more at Click 2 Houston.