Florida teen fatally shoots younger brother, mistakes him for intruder

A family has been torn apart by a tragic accident in their Florida home.

A teenage boy, 16, who was home alone, shot dead his 12-year-old brother because he mistook him for an intruder, police said today.

The shooting happened Friday at a house on Portafino Drive in the Nona Crest Subdivision in Orange County, AP reported.

"He's devastated, obviously. His parents are devastated by what happened and it's just a really bad situation for the family," Orlando Police Department Detective Mike Moreschi said.

"He heard some noises and he called out for his brother and he didn't answer and then his brother startled him," Moreschi told WFTV.

Once he realized what had happened, he immediately called 911.

The younger boy was pronounced dead at Arnold Palmer Hospital a short time later, the Orlando Sentinel reported. 

Police said the teenager would not be charged.