A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and booked on manslaughter and other charges in connection with the shooting death of a woman inside a car near Superstition Springs Mall in Mesa.

Elena Hernandez, 20, died after being shot inside the vehicle in which she and the teen were riding, police said.

The shooting happened just before 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24. Police arrived at the mall entrance, 1342 S. Power Road, for a shooting that they were initially told was caused by a bullet that came through the front car windshield.

“When officers arrived, they observed evidence indicating that a gun had been fired from inside the vehicle the victim was riding in,” police said in a statement.

Officers questioned the 16-year-old and learned he was “playing” with a handgun in the back seat of the vehicle, when he pulled the trigger accidentally, according to police.

The bullet went through the back of the front passenger seat and struck the victim, authorities said.

She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The boy was booked into Durango Juvenile Detention Center for manslaughter, minor in possession of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence and unlawful discharge of a firearm, police said.