5-year-old critically injured in LaSalle Park neighborhood shooting

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV) - A 5-year-old boy was shot and is in critical condition in the LaSalle Park neighborhood on Sunday night.

Just before 8:30 p.m., police responded to a shooting at the 1000 block of LaSalle Park Court, just south of downtown.

St. Louis police initially said a shot came through a window and hit the 5-year-old in the temple. However, through further investigation, police said they learned a male friend of the boy’s mother had a handgun in the home that the mother believed was out of reach of the child. At some point, the gun was fired, and the boy was struck in the head.

The male transported the mother and child to the hospital and left prior to police arrival. Police said they didn’t find a firearm at the scene of the incident. The child is in surgery and in critical/stable condition.

The Child Abuse Unit responded and assumed the ongoing investigation. The homicide unit has also been requested to investigate this shooting.

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