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Family Who Lost Son In Shooting Knows Grief All Too Well

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Just days after burying their beloved sister, a Minneapolis family is planning another funeral.

Brandon Wren, 15, was killed late Sunday night near Fremont and 41st Avenues in North Minneapolis.

Family says his 13-year-old brother had a gun that went off. Minneapolis Police say that preliminary results indicate the shooting was an accident.

For the large family, it was yet another round of devastating news.

"I just feel like pieces of me is just dying," Jessica Samuels said.

Death is something that's consumed Samuels and her sister Nichael Williams for the past few days.

"The hardest thing for me as her sister was to watch her go through so much pain and suffer so much," Williams said.

Samuels and Williams's sister, Tiffany Scott, died after a five-year fight with colon cancer.

One of 16 siblings, they said Scott distinguished herself, never the one to give their parents a hard time. They say she stayed in school and stayed on the honor rolls.

Now they say she will stay in their hearts.

"We lost our sister on April 24 and then we had her funeral on May 2," Williams said.

As the siblings gathered, Wren was in the center of the grieving. Samuels and Williams said he and Scott were close.

But hours after he celebrated his sister's life, his own came to an end. A day after wrapping up Scott's memorial, Wren -- known for his smile and talent on the football field -- was killed.

"My sister and my brother," Samuels said.

They say the tragedy is still sinking in, as they will be distracted with an all too familiar task.

"Now we have to figure out another plan for another funeral," Williams said.

As they prepare to say goodbye again, they say their sister is in good company once again.

"Thing is, she's got one of our siblings with her as well," Williams said. "I know they're together."

The sisters said the 13-year-old who set the gun off is taking it quite hard. Officers say they are sending the case to the country attorney as is standard, but their preliminary findings indicate it was likely an accident.

There is a fund to help out the family during this difficult time. You can donate here.

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