Boy, 4, 'Sorry' He Shot Siblings

A 4-year-old boy who shot and killed his sister and wounded his brother understands what he has done, his father said.

"He knows," Gregory Thigpen Sr. told The Washington Post for a story in Monday's editions. "He's very remorseful. He was apologizing to me."

Da'Joun Brice was crying when police arrived Saturday after the boy picked up a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun and pulled the trigger, shooting 5-year-old Kimberly Brice and 7-year-old Gregory Thigpen Jr.

"He kept asking if everybody was okay," said spokeswoman Cpl. Diane Richardson.

An older sister, 10-year-old Katina Brice, had gotten Kimberly and Gregory out of the home when she saw Da'Joun with the gun, but the bullet pierced the front door and tore through Gregory's back and hit Kimberly's upper body, police said.

The 4-year-old cannot be held criminally responsible, but charges may be filed against the parents or others who left the gun within reach, police said. The mother, Jennifer Brice, also could face charges for leaving the children at home without adult supervision.

Thigpen said he was working when the shooting occurred. He declined to say where Brice was. Brice is not married to Thigpen but lives with him and his brother.

Thigpen and Brice spent most of Sunday at the pediatric intensive care unit at Children's Hospital, where Gregory was recovering from surgery on his stomach and upper torso.

Relatives said the boy was expected to survive.

"I'm not worried" about the possible charges, Thigpen said. "I'm worried about the situation at hand. My daughter is gone, and my son is hurt."

Kimberly was pronounced dead Saturday.

"She was a quiet, innocent little girl," Thigpen said. "She was everybody's favorite."

A neighbor said she remembers the young girl's good manners and infectious smile.

"Kim is going to be real missed around here," neighbor Lisa Travis said. "She was always saying, 'Hi, Miss Lisa' and 'I love you.'"