3 year old Missouri girl killed in accidental shooting

A 3 year old girl was shot in an accidental shooting in Missouri. From an article:

A coroner has ruled the shooting death of a 3-year-old Joplin girl was an accident.

Newton County coroner Mark Bridges says Miranda Doerr was shot by someone Monday at her home east of Joplin.

Her 6-year-old brother was in the room with her but Bridges told the Joplin Globe that he can’t say definitively who shot the girl. He says he can only rule that she did not shoot herself.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

12-year old Missouri girl unintentionally shot and killed by 12-year old relative

A 12-year old girl and her 12-year old relative were in a home in Springfield, Missouri, when they played with a loaded, unsecured firearm.  One of them discharged the gun, hitting and killing the girl, apparently unintentionally.

The girl's mother was home at the time.

A news video.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

4 year old Missouri girl shot by man target shooting

A 4 year old girl walked into the area where a Missouri man was target shooting. The girl was shot in the head and died of her injuries. From an article:

According to Christian County Sheriff Joey Kyle, the girl had been brought to the home as a visitor. The 24-year-old man who lived in the house was outside target shooting with a .22-caliber rifle.

“The position he was shooting from — his vision was blocked to his right — and a visiting 4-year-old girl walked into the path of fire and he shot her in the head,” Kyle said.

The girl was taken to a Springfield hospital but died as a result of a single gunshot wound

3-year-old finds gun on bed, unintentionally shoots himself

A 3-year-old boy from Kansas City, Missouri found a loaded, unlocked handgun on his father's bed. According to reports:

Police say the 3-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the stomach, after the boy's father left a loaded handgun lying on his bed. Just before 7 p.m. Monday night, the boy's father, Nate Steward, 34, said he returned home from the store with his 3-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.

As Steward walked into his home with his children, he told police the handgun he was carrying inside his pants started to fall down his leg. Steward says he got into his house quickly so the gun would not fall out of his pants. Once inside, he says he placed the loaded handgun on his bed in the bedroom while his kids were in the living room and kitchen. The father then went to the back door to let one of his dogs out. While outside with the dog, Steward told police he heard a gunshot inside the home. He went back in to find his 3-year-old son bleeding and holding his stomach. The boy fell to the floor and Steward picked him up and rushed him to Children's Mercy Hospital in his own car.

The boy had surgery and should recover.

Police said when they arrived at the hospital they saw Steward's gun in plain view on the passenger seat of his car. The doors were unlocked and the windows rolled down. Anyone could have grabbed the gun.

Police did not indicate if Steward had a concealed weapons permit or if any charges will be filed.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

9-year old St. Louis boy shot and killed in father's car by shooters in another car

Tyrese Short, age 9

9-year old Tyrese Short was asleep in the back of his father's car as his father and friends drove

home after a get-together, St. Louis, Missouri.

Suddenly another car drove up and fired at the vehicle.  One of the shots hit Tyrese in the head.

His father drove the boy to the hospital, but Tyrese eventually died from his wound.

The father had a prior criminal history, and may have been the intended target.

The shooter has not been identified or captured.

From an article and news video:

A young child shot while riding in a sport utility vehicle with his father and two other people early Wednesday has died of his injuries. 

Police idientified the youngster as Tyrese Short, 9 of the 1800 block of Switzer. 

St. Louis Police say around 3:30 a.m. yesterday a vehicle arrived to the departments north patrol headquarters on North Union Boulevard.  The child was unconsicous and suffering from a gun shot wound to the head. 

Police later determined the child was shot from bullets fired from another vehicle, into the SUV on Goodfellow Boulevard near Laura in north St. Louis. 

The child was taken to St. Louis Childrens Hospital from the police facility, and died Wednesday evening.

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More kids shot over the past 5 days

It's been hard to keep up with all the shootings of and by kids in the last week or so. We refer you again to Joe Nocera's Gun Report in the New York Times. In the July 10th report, Nocera reports on 2 children injured in Washington state and 2 in Virginia. In the July 11th report, more child shootings occurred. From his article:

A 1-year-old boy and a 7-month-old boy were shot on the front porch of a home in Hampton, Va., late Wednesday. The boys were with a caregiver when they were both struck in the torso. A nearby house and car were pockmarked with bullets after the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to call police.

—Wavy.com

A 4-year-old girl is in critical condition after being shot by a stray bullet while watching television in Columbia, S.C., Monday night. According to preliminary reports, shots may have been fired between a group of people on foot and a silver Dodge charger near the Colony Apartments. Police have released surveillance video of the suspects.

—Columbia Patch

Tyrese Short, 9, was killed in a drive-by shooting in St. Louis, Mo., early Wednesday. The boy was a passenger in a car with his father and two others when he was shot in the head. Officials have not released details on possible suspects.

—KSDK.com

Logan Allen, 15, died Wednesday morning after being accidentally shot Tuesday at a home in Edina, Mo. Officials say Allen and a couple of other boys were hanging out when Allen was accidentally shot in the back of the head with a .22-caliber firearm.

—HeartlandConnection.com

That's 3 injured and 2 dead in one day. States where these occurred- Missouri, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Missouri 14 year old shot outside of a house party

A 14 year old St. Louis area teen was shot and injured outside of a house party last week:

A teenager was shot outside a north St Louis County home Thursday night.

Police say they responded to the residence in the 10,500 block of Renfrew Drive around 10:30 p.m. and found a large party taking place.

Investigators were called because of someone armed with a weapon at the home.  The unidentified 14 year old victim was shot in the hip according to police and taken to the hospital.

Witnesses told officers the attack occurred outside the home but had not information on who the shooter was.  A motive for the attack was unclear.

The victim is reported to be a resident in the same neighborhood where the party was underway.  He is expected to survive.

4-year old Missouri girl shot and killed by 6-year old boy

A man left a loaded handgun under a jacket in a home in Kansas City, Missouri, in the presence of three small children, two boys ages 5 and 6, and a girl, Trinity Ross, age 4.  After the man left, the 5-year old boy found the weapon and shot it, hitting Trinity in the head.  She later died from the wound.

She had just turned four years old.

From an article:

A 58-year-old woman who lives at the home said Trinity is her husband’s daughter. The girl had just gotten out of the Freda Markley Early Childhood Center at 11:30 a.m. The woman was watching the three kids. She left them in the living room while she went outside to get something from her car, police said. She heard a gunshot, ran back inside and found Trinity wounded. 

The woman put the gun on the TV and called police. She pressed a cloth to Trinity’s forehead to try to stop the bleeding while waiting for an ambulance. 

Police determined that the older boy apparently found the five-shot revolver under a jacket on a chair and fired it. The woman told police she didn’t know the gun was there. She said the gun belonged to a relative of the boys.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/22/4025115/4-year-old-kc-girl-dies-after.html#storylink=cpy

A related news video.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

4-year old St. Louis girl injured by convicted druggie with gun

A 4-year old girl was with a group of people on the streets of St. Louis, Missouri, when a convicted felon with a gun opened fire, hitting her.  Luckily, she will survive.

From an article:

Twenty-three-year-old Nathaniel Pool is charged with six counts of first-degree assault and seven counts of armed criminal action. 

Investigators say Pool opened fire on a group of people at Louisiana and Itaska from a passing car. One bullet hit the girl in the shoulder as she and her mother walked up the front steps of a nearby house. 

The girl was treated and released.

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Students bring loaded guns into school parking lot in Missouri

An observant parent noticed four young males exchanging guns in a car at the Normandy High School in Normandy, Missouri, and alerted school security, who in turn alerted police.  The youths were arrested.

In their possession were two loaded handguns.  Three of the teens were 18, the other was a juvenile.  Three of them were students at the school.

From an article:

A Normandy High spokeswoman said a parent saw four people in two different cars exchanging guns in the parking lot of the school Tuesday afternoon. The parent called security. Security called Wellston Police. 

Officers said the men left, then came back, and that's why officers arrested them. 

They found two powerful, loaded guns, a .40 caliber semi automatic and a .357 revolver. Three of them are over 18. One is under 18. The district spokeswoman said, three of the four are students are the school. 

"There's a big gang problem, it's a lot of fights that break out ," said Clancy. 

Wellston P.D. Sgt. Marvin Berry said investigators are working to find out who exactly the suspects are and why they had guns in the school parking lot. He said he feels strongly that the parent who saw the men and officers prevented a possible shooting. 

"Anything could have happened if she would have looked the other way," said Berry. 

Berry said the men could be facing felony charges of having a gun on school property.

(a related news video)
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4-year old Missouri girl dies at home when another small child finds loaded handgun

Four children between the ages of 4 and 6 were playing in a home in Kansas City, Missouri, when the father left home, leaving his loaded, unsecured handgun within easy reach of the kids.  One of the children found the gun and discharged it, hitting a 4-year old girl.  The girl is now in critical condition.

From an article and news video:

A father left his house and forgot his loaded gun in the living room, according to police. His wife didn't know the gun was out and within easy reach for small children. 

Police said it appears another child in the house was playing with the loaded gun when it went off and now don't believe the little girl accidentally shot herself in the head. 

"We saw police show up and a crime scene, so we assumed something bad happened," nearby neighbor Dan Peters said. 

Peters was at home taking a shower when his dad told him about the emergency that was happening just two doors down near 105th Terrace and Monroe Avenue in south Kansas City. 

Medical personnel were called to the area about 11:52 a.m. Thursday after a woman ran to a neighbor's house and asked the neighbor to call 911. 

"He (my dad) came out and he saw the ambulance come and saw it was a small body on the stretcher, so he assumed it was a kid," Peters said. 

Officials said a 4-year-old girl was playing in a room of the home with three other children who are all between the ages of 4 and 6. There was a loaded gun left on a chair in the room. 

The girl's stepmother left the room and told police she came running back in when she heard the gun go off. 

The girl was taken to Children's Mercy Hospital with critical injuries. 

"It sounds like the gun was in the room with all the children, and we can't tell what exactly happened because the adult was out of the room," Sgt. Marisa Barnes with the Kansas City Police Department said. 

Police said they will continue to investigate and forward the case onto the prosecutor's office, who will determine if charges will be filed.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

12-year old Missouri boy dies from handling unsecured gun

A 12-year old boy in Breckenridge, Missouri, handled a loaded, unsecured handgun in his home and unintentionally shot himself, dying from his wound.

From an article:

The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office responded to the shooting about 8:45 p.m. Friday to a house on West Maple Street and found the injured child. 

Authorities said the boy suffered a gunshot wound while mishandling a handgun.
The child was flown to a Kansas City-area hospital where he died Saturday. Deputies have not released the victim's name. 

Breckenridge is a town of less than 400 people about 75 miles northeast of Kansas City. 

Investigators say the case is ongoing, and they haven't determined whether charges will be filed.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Missouri father accidentally shoots 11 year old son in cheek

A Missouri man was giving his 11 year old son a lesson on gun safety. He shot him in the cheek accidentally during the lesson. From an article:

St. Joseph police are investigating after a father accidently shot his 11-year-old son in the cheek while discussing gun safety.

The St. Joseph News-Press (http://bit.ly/QEvU3W ) reports that the boy sustained serious injuries Friday night while cleaning guns and planning a hunting trip with his father.

Det. Richard Shelton says "ironically enough" the father and son were discussing gun safety at the time of the shooting.

Shelton says the projectile lodged below the boy's jaw. The boy was able to walk to the ambulance. He was taken to a St. Joseph Hospital and then flown to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

Authorities will present evidence to the prosecuting attorney for consideration of charges this week.

The name of the wounded boy wasn't immediately released.

Two small children injured by shotgun during dispute in Missouri

A domestic dispute broke out between a husband and wife in their home in Joplin, Missouri. A third person got involved, and the husband and third person fought over a loaded shotgun.  The gun went off, and pellets hit two small children, a 2-year old girl and 4-year old boy.  

Luckily, the wounds do not appear life-threatening.

From an article:

Capt. Derek Walrod of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said the shooting came to light when a 2-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy were brought to the emergency room of Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital in Carthage with shotgun pellet wounds. 

Walrod said sheriff’s deputies were called to the hospital at 11:20 a.m. and learned that the shooting had taken place at a residence in Brooklyn Heights. 

“It was determined this was the result of a domestic dispute between a husband and wife,” Walrod said. “Somehow, a third party got involved, the father of the wife.” 

He said a struggle for control of a shotgun ensued between the husband and the father of the woman and the gun discharged, striking the children. 

“It’s my understanding the injuries to the children are not life-threatening,” Walrod said.
But the children were flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Springfield after receiving initial treatment at the hospital in Carthage. 

Both the husband and the father of the woman were in custody Monday afternoon pending the filing of domestic assault charges. Their names have yet to be released.

UPDATE (11/23/12):   The father, 27-year old Kenton Cowgill Jr., is being charged with 6 felony charges for the shooting.  From an article:

The Jasper County prosecutor’s office filed six charges Tuesday against Kenton Cowgill Jr., 27, after an altercation with Mark L. Wittenmeyer, 48. 

According to Jasper County sheriff’s deputies, the fight took place when Wittenmeyer confronted Cowgill after an alleged domestic assault involving Shayna Cowgill, Wittenmeyer’s daughter. 

It is alleged that during the confrontation, Kenton Cowgill brandished a shotgun, and the two men began to struggle over the weapon. The shotgun discharged, and pellets struck the two children in the face and upper torso area. 

A 2-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy were injured. They were taken to Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital in Carthage and then transferred to a hospital in Springfield. 

Sheriff’s Capt. Derek Walrod said he was told by a nurse that the children are recovering and their injuries are not life-threatening . 

The Jasper County prosecutor’s office on Tuesday charged Cowgill with three counts of domestic assault, two counts of armedcriminal action and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. 

According to a probable-cause statement submitted by sheriff’s deputies, Cowgill was watching his two children at the home of his parents on County Lane 173. Wittenmeyer went to the house to confront Cowgill about an incident a short time earlier at another address on County Lane 173 that resulted in Cowgill causing an injury to Shayna Cowgill’s head and left eye, the affidavit says.

Wittenmeyer forced his way past Kerry Cowgill, Kenton Cowgill’s mother, to enter the home, deputies said. Kenton Cowgill then reportedly picked up a loaded shotgun, which was nearby, and was bringing the shotgun “in an upward motion toward Wittenmeyer.” 

The two began struggling with the shotgun while the weapon’s muzzle was pointed in the direction of the two children, according to the affidavit. The shotgun discharged, with pellets striking both of the children. The two men reportedly continued to struggle, with Wittenmeyer eventually gaining control of the shotgun and using it in an attempt to injure Kenton Cowgill. The two men then began helping to care for the children and take them to the hospital, deputies said. 

Deputies contacted Shayna Cowgill at the Carthage hospital, and she said Kenton Cowgill had struck her in the face with his elbow during an altercation. He admitted to the assault, deputies said, and was arrested.

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A gang-related shooting in St. Louis injures two boys, ages 13 and 17

An 18-year old gang member, Anthony Jamal Lee, fired from his vehicle at a group of boys, in St. Louis, Missouri.  A 13-year old boy was hit in the side, and a 17-year old boy was grazed in the face and arm.  Both will survive.  Two passengers in another vehicle also suffered graze wounds.

From an article:

Anthony Jamal Lee, 18, fired at a group of people from the window of a Grand Prix at 2:17 p.m., according to charges. A 13-year-old boy was struck in the side of his body and had to be hospitalized; a 17-year-old boy was grazed by bullets on his face and arm. 

Lee, according to authorities, then fired from his car at two passengers in another Grand Prix, grazing one of them in the back. 

One shooting occurred at the 3200 block of Oriole Avenue, and the other nearby at Harney and Beacon avenues. 

Lee, who was charged Friday in St. Louis Circuit Court, faces a mix of 10 felony counts of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and firing shots from a vehicle. 

Judge Theresa Burke set $100,000 cash bail. 

Authorities said Lee is a documented member of the "Obama Boyz" gang, but did not elaborate.

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Two Missouri 5th graders bring gun to school

A 5th-grade boy brought an unloaded gun to his Florissant, Missouri, elementary school, in his backpack.  Another boy then tried to hide it in a classroom.  A fifth-grade girl saw the incident and reported it to police.

From an article and news video:

A Keeven school resource officer was notified and the two students were taken into custody. School officials called police. School officials say the gun was never used in a threatening manner.  

"Obviously bringing a gun to school is a serious offense, and we can't say specifically what will happen to the students because of privacy laws," Diana Gulotta is Assistant Superintendent for Communications said. "However what we can say is the behaviorguide would stipulate at minimum 10 days out-of-school suspension, to a disciplinary hearing. And then at the discipline hearing they would decide. But the most severe consequence is expulsion."  

Gulotta said school district officials do not know what the student intended. 

The article did not say where the gun came from.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

17-year old Missouri boy and friends shoot ice cream truck driver with BB gun in robbery attempt

An ice cream truck driver was making his rounds in Blue Springs, Missouri, when he was approached by four teen boys.  That's when 17-year old Isiah G. Etienne pulled out a BB gun he and his friends had just bought at Walmart and demanded cash from the driver.  The driver refused, so Isiah shot him multiple times with the BB gun in the face, neck, and arm.  He has since been arrested.

From an article:

According to court records, 47-year-old ice cream truck driver Patrick Schramke reported Tuesday afternoon being robbed and shot by three to four youth who were driving in a burgundy vehicle with a bungee cord holding a bumper together. 

Police say a group of youth had gone to Walmart and purchased a BB gun, which they were shooting in a park. When they saw an ice cream truck, police say they approached it, and according to police, the defendant pointed the BB gun at Schramke. 

When the Schramke wouldn’t turn over any money, authorities say Etienne shot the driver in the head, neck and arm with the BB gun. 

Schramke was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Grandfather caught with loaded handgun at school after confrontation

A grandfather got into an argument with a student in the parking lot of Pattonville High School, in Pattonville, Missouri, after his granddaughter was in a car accident there, and verbally threatened the student.  When authorities investigated, they found that the grandfather had a loaded handgun in his car, against school policy.  Luckily, the argument had not escalated to the point where he threatened the student with it.

From an article:

Police arrested the grandfather of a Pattonville High School student after an argument in the parking lot this afternoon. 

According to Pattonville school district officials, the grandfather came to the school and verbally threatened a student after his granddaughter got into a car accident in the parking lot. 

The Maryland Heights police arrested the man after officers discovered the grandfather was carrying a loaded handgun. Although he made a threat against the student, he never showed the handgun to the student or flourished it in any way, officials said. Weapons are not permitted on campus, even for those with legal conceal-carry permits.

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Missouri mom kills herself and two young children

We hate to have to write about sad and senseless incidents like this one. A Missouri woman who was struggling with depression bought a gun a few days ago and shot herself and her two young children while her husband was in another area of the home:

Mitchell Murch II called police Monday to report that he heard shots. Police who responded found 42-year-old Catherine Murch in the kitchen, 10-year-old Mitchell Murch III elsewhere on the first floor and 8-year-old Mary Claire Murch on the second floor of the house the well-to-do suburb of Glendale.

Police questioned Mitchell Murch II but said they believed the case was a murder-suicide. Still, nearly two dozen investigators with the St. Louis Area Major Case Squad were assigned to the case.

During an emotional news conference Friday, Lt. Tim Fagan said although investigators were still awaiting toxicology results, they were confident the shooting was a murder-suicide, as was originally reported. He pointed to three key pieces of evidence in determining that Catherine Murch was responsible for the shootings: an autopsy suggesting her wounds were self-inflicted, a receipt showing she bought the handgun used in the shootings from a St. Louis business two days earlier, and her longtime battle with depression. He said no suicide note was found.

Fagan said Catherine Murch had been fighting depression for several years but her condition seemed worse recently. He also said the family had been under some financial strain but didn't elaborate.

"She was having a difficult time," Fagan said.

Fagan said the size of the investigation was necessary to "get a very clear understanding of what happened." He had to stop and compose himself for several seconds when asked why Catherine Murch killed her children as well as herself.

"I have a picture of someone who loved her children very much. I know that's difficult for all of us...." He paused and appeared to be choking up. "Difficult for all of us to understand."

Fagan said the shootings happened in quick succession. Mitchell Murch III was shot several times, but Mary Claire and Catherine Murch were both killed by single shots.

9 year old Missouri girl shot by 12 year old brother

If this one sounds familiar, it's because there was a very similar story from the state of Oklahoma recently. Another 12 year old boy has shot his 9 year old sister. He has been arrested, along with his father:

Lt. Jim McMillen with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety says a 9-year-old girl was shot with her father's gun by her 12-year-old brother on Sunday.

DPS had originally released the boy's age as 11, but now says the father gave them the wrong age.

Bobby Cantrell, 47, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child 1st degree. 

He was given a bond of $10,000 cash or surety.

Officers arrested the 12-year-old boy as well. Charges are pending against him.

Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a 911 call around 6:10 p.m. Sunday of a 9-year-old girl taken to the Missouri Delta Medical Center for a gunshot wound.

Officers responded to the hospital and to a home at 111 Reuben Street where the shooting happened.

The girl and her 12-year-old brother were in their father's bedroom when the boy picked up a loaded .40 caliber pistol that belonged to their dad and shot his sister, according to Sikeston DPS.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.