ST. LOUIS — A 5-year-old girl was shot Monday afternoon in St. Louis' North Pointe neighborhood.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said the shooting happened shortly after 4:30 p.m. on the 8700 block of Oxford Lane, near McLaran Avenue.
The child was taken to a nearby firehouse on the 5400 block of Partridge Avenue, where police responded, St. Louis Police Sgt. Charles Wall said. She had a gunshot wound to her right side and was conscious and breathing when paramedics took her to the hospital.
Police did not immediately have an update on the child's condition. No further information on the circumstances of the shooting was provided.
5 On Your Side's Robert Townsend spoke to Mike Abed, who owns a nearby convenience store. He said the sounds of rapid gunfire spraying the brick building sent his customers running Monday afternoon as bullets sprayed the brick building.
"We were inside working, and all we heard was..." Abed said, then rolled his R's to mimic the sound of rapid gunfire.
He pointed to more than a dozen bullet holes in his building and two in his car parked outside.
Police placed more than 30 evidence markers in the parking lot of a nearby vacant building and a neighbor's driveway. A neighbor told 5 On Your Side that someone fired at a truck owned by the girl's father, which the girl and her mother were sitting in at the time.
This is the 31st victim age 17 or younger to be shot in the city this year, according to 5 On Your Side data. Eight of those children have died.
The shooting happened in Alderwoman Pam Boyd's 13th Ward.
In a statement, Boyd said, "I'm just asking people to watch how they're living their lives, so they don't put their children's lives in harm's way."
This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
Cure Violence is an international organization that is present in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities.