10-year-old girl shot and killed by brother in Georgia

A 10-year-old girl from the Savannah, Ga., area was shot and killed by her brother on Friday, the Ware County Sheriff's Office confirmed.

Taylor Jowers asked her brother if she could hold a 12-gauge shotgun, reports CBS affiliate WTOC in Savannah reports.

Both their parents were at work, and her brother was attempting to make sure the gun wasn't loaded when it went off, fatally wounding Taylor, CBS affiliate WTEV in Jacksonville, Fla.

Deputies say they rendered first aid upon arrival, but were not able to keep Taylor alive. She was reportedly dead before a rescue helicopter even arrived.

The investigation continues but all signs point to the shooting being an accident, according to sheriff's office.

A neighbor told WTEV that the brother went to her home to call 911 immediately after the incident.

"It was loud," said the woman, who did not want to be identified. "I heard him run up the stairs and I knew something was wrong. I tried to help as best I could but there wasn't much we could do."

Sheriff Randy Royal said: "This is a tragedy. We wish to express our condolences to the family in their time of need."

Neighbors said the family had moved to the neighborhood within the past few months. They said this was the first time they had ever heard of any incidents there.