ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A critically injured child was rushed to a hospital after they were struck by gunfire Saturday afternoon in the Spanish Lake area of north St. Louis County.
A ShotSpotter detected gunfire in the area, prompting St. Louis County police officers to respond at about 2:46 p.m. to the 1300 block of Aspen Woods Drive, near Taos Drive.
Officers found a 9-year-old boy wounded by gunfire, police said. He was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries.
The family of the victim told 5 On Your Side they were rattled and concerned, but they're confident he will recover.
A police spokesperson said detectives with St. Louis County Police Department's Crimes Against Persons have begun investigating the shooting.
Police said the child was not the intended target, but no arrests have been made yet.
"There were no other injuries reported," the police spokesperson said. A neighboring residence sustained property damage only."
Daryl Marsaw was almost hit by the same gunfire, pulling into his driveway. It was his car that was hit by the bullets.
"I heard the gunshots immediately within 10 seconds or so before I pulled into the driveway, and then I was like, 'Oh, wow, you know what's happening?' Once I pull in to turn into my driveway, one bullet struck me, struck my car as I was pulling in, so immediately, you feel a little nervous or you feel uneasy," he said.
Marsaw said as soon as that happened, he was immediately worried about his family.
"I was concerned with my family and if this was going to keep going. Maybe if someone was going to be running down the driveway to finish the job. Immediately I wanted to run into my family, make sure they were okay," he said.
According to 5 On Your Side data, 33 children under the age of 18 have been shot so far in the St. Louis metro area. 10 of them have died.
If you have any information, you're asked to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS. You can remain anonymous.
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 de-escalate violent situations within their own communities.
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