A 1-year-old boy was shot in the foot following an altercation that took place in Hamilton Heights yesterday. According to a report by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the incident occurred after the parents of the child, a 23-year-old man, and a 20-year-old woman, were involved in a dispute at a gas station, leading to the incident that unfolded later at the 1400 block of Clara.
Following an initial investigation, officers found that after the incident at the gas station, the parents and their child were approached by individuals believed to be linked to the earlier altercation. At that point, the father, who reported hearing gunshots, fired his own weapon, unintentionally striking the vehicle where his son was located as the suspects fled the scene. The toddler was taken to a hospital with his parents and was listed in stable condition. The father was detained by security at Laclede & Kingshighway while attempting to leave the medical facility.
The child's parents have been arrested in connection to the shooting after providing authorities with multiple conflicting accounts of the event, the police department further informed the public of the ongoing investigation. The young boy's injuries were non-life-threatening, but the circumstances surrounding the accident remain under scrutiny by the District 5 detectives.
Those with information pertaining to the incident are encouraged to reach out to CrimeStoppers, with the potential of a cash reward for tips leading to a felony arrest, residents can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477) or can provide details directly to a 5th District Detective at 314-444-0001.
