Man arrested after 1-year-old dies in accidental shooting in St. Louis City, police say

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV) - A man’s been arrested after a boy accidentally shot himself and died in north St. Louis City.

Officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said evidence showed 1-year-old Khori Patterson shot himself in the head on August 31 in the 900 block of Melvin in the Baden neighborhood in St. Louis City.

The boy was barely conscious and barely breathing when paramedics rushed him to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Donnell Straughter was arrested on September 26 and the Circuit Attorney’s Office issued one count of endangering the welfare of a child charge.

“This is just a terrible tragedy that should have never happened. Guns are inherently dangerous,” Lt. Col. Michael Sack with the police department said. “There are a number of them in our community. All of us who own firearms or who have firearms must be responsible with their care and their use.”

The child abuse unit and crisis response teams were seen outside the house Wednesday afternoon.

Police initially told News 4 the child was 2 years old. This story has been changed to reflect the current information released.

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