A sixth grade boy was killed outside his school in Islamabad after a security guard accidentally shot him.

The incident took place on Wednesday outside a private school in Nilore, Islamabad.

The guard was cleaning his gun and accidentally fired it. He has been taken into custody and it is unclear why he was cleaning his gun during school time.

According to reports, there was an eyewitness who said that after the boy was shot, he cried in pain for 10-15 minutes. The school did not provide a vehicle to take the child to the hospital and closed its gates instead.

The boy was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

Police are investigating the incident and the parents are protesting against the school.