A 12-year-old boy was found shot to death in Prichard on Sunday night, police said Monday. Authorities are now trying to question a 16-year-old relative in connection with the incident.

Prichard Police Chief Walter Knight said at a news conference Monday that he could not provide further details about the ongoing case.

“We know that a tragedy occurred last night between 7 and 8 p.m. in the 500 block of Snyder Drive,” Knight said.

Emergency personnel called to the scene pronounced the 12-year-old boy dead after suffering only a gunshot wound, the chief said.

The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office forensics team was also called to the scene and collected evidence that Knight said he did not have access to.

“Apparently an incident occurred at this location in which a 12-year-old youth was killed,” he said.

Police are actively searching for relatives of the boy, including 16-year-old J-yquavious Hill, who is wanted for questioning.

No weapons were found at the scene, Knight said.

Prichard Mayor Jimmy Gardner called the fatal shooting a “tragic situation” and criticized state lawmakers who passed a permit-free gun-carrying law in 2023, blaming the measure for a rise in gun violence.

“That’s a problem,” said the mayor. “There are people who can’t cope with their mental health problems. They can’t resolve conflicts.”