ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — The mother of a 4-year-old boy who shot himself in the leg Friday was one of two people charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Cornelia Brew, 23, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child Saturday, a day after her son was taken to the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. Tawan Smith, also 23, was charged with the same crime, but police did not know if he was related to the boy.
According to the St. Louis County Police Department, officers responded to a shooting call at about 5:45 p.m. in the 10100 block of Green Valley Drive.
Officers found a 4-year-old with a gunshot wound to the leg. The victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
While at the hospital, Brew told police she was on a bed with her son when she heard a gunshot, according to a probable cause statement. She said she picked up her son and noticed he had been shot. She then rushed him to the hospital for treatment.
The probable cause statement said officers did not find any evidence of gunshot damage coming through any walls or doors and said the only gunshot damage was to the blanket where the boy was sitting. The statement said the investigation found the gunshot wound to be self-inflicted.
Police said Brew and Smith both lived in the house where the shooting occurred.
Both Brew and Smith were taken into custody. A judge set bonds for each at $250,000, cash-only.
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.
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