TOMBALL, TEXAS — A heart-wrenching case out of Tomball has reignited conversations around gun safety and youth accountability after 17-year-old Rhyder Tettleton was sentenced to four years of community supervision in connection with the accidental shooting death of his 16-year-old brother.
The tragic incident occurred on November 25th, when Tettleton, his brother, and several friends were drinking and handling firearms inside a barn on their property. According to investigators, Tettleton pointed a gun—believing it to be unloaded—at his younger brother’s chest and pulled the trigger. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene, and witnesses reported hearing the victim cry for help after being shot.
In the immediate aftermath, authorities say Tettleton urged others present to lie about what had happened. However, the investigation led to his arrest and an initial charge of manslaughter.
In a plea deal reached with prosecutors, the charge was reduced to criminally negligent homicide, and Tettleton avoided prison time. Instead, he was sentenced to four years of probation, with strict conditions that include completing a gun safety course, regular drug and alcohol testing, and routine check-ins with a community supervision officer.
If Tettleton successfully completes his probation, he will avoid a formal conviction on his record.
The family’s attorney described the shooting as a “tragic accident,” expressing that the family is devastated by the loss and continues to grieve.
The case has sparked community debate over gun ownership, teenage access to firearms, and the importance of firearm education. Advocates are now calling for more robust awareness programs to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As one law enforcement officer noted, “This is a sobering reminder that guns are not toys. A single mistake—one moment of negligence—can destroy lives.”
