ST. LOUIS — A teen was critically injured Wednesday night in a north St. Louis shooting.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday to a shooting in the 2000 block of Mullanphy Street, located in the city's St. Louis Place neighborhood. There, they found a 13-year-old boy who had been shot.
Police said the teen victim was taken to the hospital via ambulance with critical injuries.
Although the teen wasn't able to provide a statement due to his condition, preliminary investigation revealed the boy was shot at by three unknown male suspects wearing dark clothing. Nearby apartments and vehicles were also hit by gunfire, police said.
The investigation remained ongoing as of Thursday morning.
“It’s crazy because he’s a little 13-year-old boy. He’s still a kid,” said a friend of the boy’s family, who wanted to remain anonymous.
“I have known this family for a long time. I believe he was coming home from basketball practice or something when all that happened. I wasn’t here at the time, but people heard lots of shots. His family opened the door and saw him on the ground. I was like wow! That’s crazy,” added the friend.
“I’m outraged,” said Alisha Franklin, who lives in the neighborhood with her two kids. “I can tell you we need more lighting out here in the parking lot at our complex so we can feel safe. We also need the gate to our parking lot fix. It’s been broken for a long time. I pray that that boy is OK and he has a full recovery. I would not want to see a child in that position."
“He’s doing okay. He went into surgery this morning. He’s blessed,” said the family friend.
Police asked anyone with information who wants to remain anonymous to contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
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.