Update: Police said Friday that the investigation was continuing into the shooting death of 16 year old Zachary Blanchard.

The Watertown High School student died inside a pickup truck when a rifle inside went off apparently by accident.

Police said it's against the law to have a loaded firearm in a vehicle and charges could be lodged in connection with that.

Officials are still investigating who was handling the gun when it discharged.

"The male cousin was trying to assist the victim moving the rifle - I guess how much he had his hands on the rifle compared to the victim. It's possible that both of them were moving the rifle," said Detective Stephen Backus of the Watertown Police Department.

Investigators said they were still trying to figure out exactly what happened and why before they close the case.

Our report from Thursday:

Police said a 16 year old Watertown High School student died Thursday evening during an apparent accidental shooting in in the city.

The victim was identified as Zachary Blanchard of 856 Leray Street.

The shooting happened at approximately 5 p.m. in a parking lot at Maple Court Apartments off Kieff Drive.

According to Detective Stephen Backus of the Watertown Police Department, Blanchard was sitting in the back seat of an extended cab pickup truck and moved a hunting rifle, which went off.

"It appears to be accidental, caused by the individual that's deceased," said Backus.

Blanchard was struck in the head and killed, Backus said.

He said Blanchard did not know the gun was loaded.

Backus said two of Blanchard's cousins, who are adults, were in the pickup truck when the shooting occurred.

"We're going to interview the people that were in the car and then go from there," said Backus.

He said the trio was at Maple Courts Apartments to pick up a passenger and Blanchard moved the rifle to make room in the vehicle.

A shotgun was also in the pickup, police said.

Police would not release the names of the Blanchard cousins or say who owned the guns.

Officials would not disclose information on where the group had been prior to the shooting or where they were planning to go.

News of Blanchard's death spread quickly through the Watertown community; many people began leaving messages of disbelief and sadness on the teen's Facebook page within hours of the tragic incident.