A 3-year-old boy was fatally wounded Wednesday in what police describe as an accidental shooting inside a Florissant apartment, a sudden loss that has left relatives and neighbors stunned.
Officers were called about 1:20 p.m. to the 2100 block of Flordawn, where they found the child with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital and later died. Court documents state the boy’s father was in the unit with two small children when a firearm became accessible to them.
According to KSDK, those documents allege that 28-year-old Jordan Burns had been drinking, left a gun within reach of the children, and that the 3-year-old found the weapon and shot himself. Burns was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held at the St. Louis County Jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond, the outlet reports.
How Missouri Law Could Shape The Case
Per the Missouri Revised Statutes as published on Justia, endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree is generally a class D felony. The statute also specifies that if a child dies as a result of the conduct, prosecutors may charge the offense as a class A felony, which is a significantly more serious classification. That legal framework will guide how prosecutors evaluate the case as investigators continue to gather evidence.
Bond, Prior Arrest And Police Response
Court records cited by KSDK also indicate Burns had a prior arrest for unlawful use of a weapon in 2025. The Florissant Police Department has said it remains committed to promoting firearm safety and responsible gun storage as the investigation continues. Officials have not yet released additional details on the case or any upcoming court dates.
Investigators are still reviewing evidence, and prosecutors have not announced whether any additional charges will be filed. Community leaders and safety advocates say the tragedy highlights, in the starkest way possible, the need to keep firearms securely stored and far from the reach of children.
