x
Breaking News
More () »

St. Louis girl, 12, shot in the side of the head on the Fourth of July

The crime marks at least the seventh child to be injured or killed by gunfire in the city in recent weeks

From her front porch in the 5700 block of Era Avenue in north St. Louis, Carolyn King is growing tired.

"People need to put these guns down. They need to stop. Let these guns go," she said.

As a longtime resident of the Walnut Park East neighborhood, King is tired of all the violence and innocent blood shed that she says is inching closer to her front door.

"I stay pinned in this house and it's sad I have to stay secured in my own house. It's scary. It's getting scary," he said.

Take Thursday night, for example, at the conclusion of a Fourth of July gathering among friends, family and neighbors.

Around 11:45 p.m., a girl, 12, was struck by a bullet in the side of the head just a few doors down from King's house.

"Everyone was just shooting fireworks, everyone was enjoying themselves. That's how it started out," King said.

St. Louis Police said the girl was in a car with four others, including two 11-year-olds, when they all heard gunfire and realized she was hit.

Police said she was taken to a local hospital by EMS crews and is now listed in stable condition.

No one else in the car was hurt, but the investigation is ongoing.

"I saw all the police out there, but didn't know exactly what was going on until my husband told me a child was shot. I heard people out there hollering," King said.

It's at least the seventh time a young child has been hurt or killed by gunfire in St. Louis in recent weeks. Some of the victims have been as young as three.

On the string of recent violence, King said, "My heart went out because my grandkids were out there. My daughter had just come to pick up my grandbaby when all this happened."

Having lost two sons herself, King knows the carnage and pain a single bullet can cause.

That's why from her front porch, she's saying enough is enough.

"People need to come together cause all lives matter. Black lives, white lives. All lives matter to me," she said.

5 On Your Side reached out to St. Louis police on Friday for an interview with anyone in the department regarding the string of violence involving children.

The department said no one was available to comment.

Before You Leave, Check This Out