St. Anthony, Minnesota — A child is in stable condition in the hospital after being shot inside a parked vehicle at a St. Anthony apartment complex on Thursday night, according to police.
Police say dispatchers received a 911 hang-up call around 6:40 p.m. near the Equinox Apartments and overheard someone mention the need for a hospital. St. Anthony police say squads arrived within two minutes but were unable to locate the caller or any evidence.
According to police, a 3-year-old boy with a reported accidental gunshot wound to the head was taken to a local hospital about 30 minutes later. Investigators interviewed two adults who were reportedly near the child when the gunshot rang out. The Hennepin County Crime Lab is currently processing evidence collected at the hospital and the alleged shooting scene.
St. Anthony Police Chief Jeff Spiess told KARE 11 that the child had surgery Thursday night and was in stable condition. He stated that investigators were told the boy got his hands on a loaded firearm inside the vehicle and accidentally discharged it, shooting himself in the head.
Spiess stated that investigators are verifying the events leading up to the shooting before potentially filing criminal charges, and that the child’s condition in the coming days will also factor into a charging decision.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call St. Anthony Police at 612-782-3350.