News today of the shocking elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn. comes on the heels of a another senseless gun death in University City. 

On Tuesday, the School District of University City community lost Demetri Phillips, a 12-year-old sixth grader at Brittany Woods Middle School.

Demetri was shot and killed when a loaded gun went off in the hands of his friend, striking him in the head. The gun was found under a pillow in the friend's grandfather's bedroom. The friend lived with the grandfather.

Our sister site Newtown Patch is reporting that 27 people—including 18 children—were killed Friday, in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The school housed children in grades K-4.

Newtown Patch is updating its story as soon information becomes available. To follow the news, click here. 

Demetri is not the first young shooting victim this year in University City. Destinee Clemons was shot and killed while sitting on her front porch in June.

With the string of gun deaths and shootings nationally, what can we as a community do to prevent further deaths?