A seven-year-old was killed and his brother injured when their paternal uncle shot them near their school in Khamis Mushayt. The case has enraged Saudis.

The local police were informed of a shooting near Zaid bin Thabet Elementary School on Thursday. Police headed to the site and discovered that one boy had died immediately as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. The other boy was hit in the stomach and shoulders and was transferred to Asir Central Hospital where he is reported to be in a stable condition.

Asir police spokesman Abdullah bin Thafran said police were able to arrest the killer in record time. He said an investigation was ongoing and the case had been referred to higher authorities.

Ahmad Al-Mujmil Asiri, the father of the two children, described the incident as tragic, saying that it never crossed his mind that his brother would kill his son.

“Abdul Aziz was one of my best children. He was kind to us and loved his mother deeply. He also loved football,” he said

The father is still in pain for his other son Mashari. “He is in God’s hands. I’m in the hospital every day to follow up on his case and pray for him,” he said.

The distraught father has not talked to his brother in one year saying that both have fought over the issue of dealing with his mother.

“I had thought that what happened was a car accident. I never thought that my brother would kill my sons. I considered him their father as well,” the father told Arab News.