ST. LOUIS — A 4-year-old girl named Harley Hosein was fatally shot by her sibling Monday night while left home alone with three other young children, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Police said officers responded just before midnight Monday at a home in the 700 block of Thrush Avenue, located in the city's Baden neighborhood. There, they found Hosein barely breathing.
Officers, unable to wait for an ambulance, rushed Hosein to the hospital in their patrol SUV while rendering medical aid. The child later died at an area hospital, police said.
In a Tuesday afternoon update, police said the mother left Hosein at home with her 4-year-old twin sibling, a 9-year-old and a 10-year-old while she went to the store.
Mitch McCoy, with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, said Hosein was shot by one of her siblings after they got ahold of a gun that was left in an easily accessible location.
The 911 call came from one of the children.
Another child suffered a small injury to their face, police said.
McCoy said these types of calls are tough for everyone involved.
"This is a total tragedy," he said. "We are heartbroken. What happened this morning, no officer expects to get to work, get a call and when they arrive on the scene to find a child dying, and what our officers did this morning, they tried to save that child's life.".
McCoy said the work the officers did Monday night is a testament to what they do daily by protecting and serving.
"As a police officer, you know that you are going to see a lot of things in your time and there are things that you will see, that you will never unsee, and this is going to be one of those nights. This is going to be in the minds of our officers for a while," he said.
McCoy emphasized the use of gun locks.
"A four-year-old girl is dead and it was preventable if that gun was locked up and stored away," he added.
One location with gun locks is Saint Louis Crisis Nursery.
Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, with five locations across the St. Louis region, works to protect children.
Chief Executive Officer Molly Brown reacted to the tragedy: "It's heartbreaking to hear and wrap your head around it."
Their very own mission aims to prevent this.
"Whenever there is a tragedy like this, we go into that community and go door-to-door to offer gun locks and support and that reminder that families are not alone," Brown explained.
The short-term safe haven has felt the impact of a childcare crisis.
"Post-COVID, we're seeing an increase in calls, increase in need, an overall crisis in terms of childcare providers," Brown added.
Their work is 24/7, knowing care and commitment is needed around the clock.
The 24-hour helpline number is 314-768-3201.
"What I would hope that families know is that the Crisis Nursery is always here," Brown said.
The St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention said they are there for the communities and people affected by gun violence and trauma as tragedies like this are difficult for many.
"I feel for the family, I feel for the police officers, because I was a police officer, so responding to scenes like that over and over. The communities get tired of this when this happens frequently," Office of Violence Prevention Director Wilford Pinkney said.
Pinkney said they can connect families, victims and the community to mental health services and other assistance.
"No one agency or government alone can solve this problem. And through the Office of Violence Prevention, that's what we promote. We, a cohort of organizations, we're going to have about 60 contracts this year. Those people work together, talk to each other to help the community," he said.
The office has been open for about two years and they have seen it help in the city.
"We don't want to just go by numbers, but in terms of reported homicides, those are down. Shootings are about level, maybe slightly up, but those numbers are down about 20 to 30% from two or three years ago. So we see the reported numbers going in the right direction. But, we're not where we need to be. We have a ways to go," Pinkney said.
He said they work to reduce the stigma around seeking help after trauma because it has a hand in preventing suicides and other types of gun violence.
"You can also hurt others because of that pain and that trauma. Sometimes things like this, not in this particular case, can lead to retaliatory violence. People want to avenge their loved ones, right? And that's why we have programs that work on the street, in the community, to prevent that," Pinkney added.
You can find more information about the Office of Violence Prevention here or by calling 314-299-2203.
According to police data, this is the sixth child under the age of 17 shot and killed this year in the city.
St. Louis police continue to investigate.
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.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) is a community-based clinic in St. Louis that helps people heal after they have been injured by a bullet. The BRIC was established to help people who are discharged from the emergency department after being shot.