A 16-year-old boy who was playing with a handgun in the backseat of a car accidentally shot a girl who was in the car with him late Tuesday night, according to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand.

Normand said that around 11 p.m. Tuesday officers responded to East Jefferson General Hospital in reference to a gunshot victim who had been brought into the emergency room.

Deputies at the hospital found a 15-year-old girl from Kenner who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. They interviewed the group of friends, who had brought the girl to the hospital. The group initially said that the girl was shot by several unknown shooters; however, after deputies noticed inconsistencies in the story, the 16-year-old boy admitted to shooting the girl.

The boy said that he was playing with a handgun while he, the victim and several others were parked in a car in the 6700 block of Asher Street in Metairie. The gun accidentally discharged, striking the victim in the leg. The gun was found near the Asher Street block.

The 16-year-old was arrested for one count of negligent injury. The victim is in stable condition.