ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) is investigating after an 8-year-old boy was left injured Monday evening following a shooting in south St. Louis.
According to SLMPD, the shooting took place shortly after 7:30 p.m. on the 3400 block of Cherokee Street in south St. Louis’ Benton Park West neighborhood. The boy was rushed to the hospital in a police SUV after a gun went off, grazing him in the face.
Police believe the shooting was the result of children playing with firearms. When police arrived at the house, they located multiple minors in the backyard.
Officials have told FOX 2 that they are searching for the weapon that was used in the shooting. When officers arrived on the scene, no one would tell investigators where the gun was located, officials said. Police were able to find ballistic evidence at the scene using a canine, but it is unknown whether a gun was recovered at the scene.
So far, a 12-year-old has been detained for the shooting, according to police.
“There’s no reason that a group of juveniles should be in the backyard, playing with a gun,” said Mitch McCoy, PIO of SLMPD. “At some point, when are parents going to help?”
An investigation into the shooting is ongoing and McCoy says that adults involved could possibly face consequences. Officials have since listed the 8-year-old’s condition as stable, and he is expected to make a recovery.
