A quiet Monday morning in north St. Louis took a frightening turn when a gun went off inside a home on the 5100 block of Terry Avenue, injuring two teenagers in what police are calling an apparent accidental shooting.
St. Louis police say the incident happened around 9 a.m. A 16-year-old boy was hit in the leg and a 15-year-old girl was shot in the hand. Both were taken by private vehicle to a nearby hospital, where they were listed in stable condition.
What police say happened
According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police, an 18-year-old man was handling a firearm inside the home when it discharged. Officers say he ran from the scene after the shot was fired.
Detectives are still piecing together exactly how the gun was accessed and why it went off. As KSDK reports, investigators have not announced any charges and are canvassing the neighborhood, looking for witnesses who can help fill in the gaps.
Context: safe storage and accidental shootings
Unintentional shootings remain a stubborn risk for kids and teens, and public health groups say many of these incidents are preventable with basic safety steps at home. Data from Giffords and the Children's Safety Network indicate that child access prevention practices and storing firearms locked and unloaded are linked to lower rates of accidental gun injuries among young people.
Local advocates have repeatedly stressed the same message, urging gun owners to keep firearms locked up and ammunition stored separately, especially in homes where children and teenagers live or visit.
Police have not publicly identified any suspects and are asking anyone with information about the Terry Avenue shooting to contact St. Louis Metropolitan Police detectives. As noted by KSDK, investigators are working to confirm the timeline leading up to the gun going off and to determine whether criminal charges will follow.
