UPDATE, 2 p.m., May 21 | Police say the 3-year-old boy was shot on accident by another child under the age of 10. The boy remains hospitalized but is in a stable condition.
UPDATE, May 21 | Police confirmed the boy who was shot is 3 years old.
ORIGINAL STORY, May 20 | A juvenile boy under the age of 10 is in stable condition after being shot in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday.
The shooting, which occurred just before 6 p.m. near East 23rd Street and Chelsea Avenue, was the city’s fourth shooting in three hours.
Police said there were at least one to two other children inside the home at the time of the shooting, as well as one to two adults.
As soon as police arrived on scene, they could hear the young boy screaming.
"It's definitely scary anytime anyone is shot,” said Kansas City Police spokesperson Doaa El-Ashkar, “but especially a child and especially a child that young,”.
As far as police know, the shooting happened inside but detectives canvassed the area, paying attention to a car with its door still open.
Detectives who work specifically with juveniles were on scene speaking to the children.
Nearby neighbor Myana Henderson said the shooting broke her heart.
"I'm trying so hard not to cry right now,” Henderson said. “I hate talking about it. It's horrible. It's horrible to see something like that.”
Law enforcement believe the shooting was not criminal, but will continue to gather witness interviews. Anyone with information about the shooting can call the anonymous tips line at 816-474-TIPS.
