The SLMPD Child Abuse Unit is investigating after a 3-year-old boy accidentally shot himself with a firearm in the Wells/Goodfellow neighborhood.
Just after 1 p.m. on October 23, 2025, officers received a call for a shooting at an apartment in the 5800 block of Selber Ct. Upon arriving, they located the 3-year-old boy inside a residence suffering from a gunshot wound to his hip. EMS responded and transported the child to the hospital for treatment.
A preliminary investigation revealed the boy’s guardian, a 64-year-old male, was cleaning out a closet and left a firearm unsecured. The boy got ahold of the firearm and accidentally shot himself. The Child Abuse Unit is handling the ongoing investigation which is standard procedure for accidental child shootings.
Residents with firearms are strongly encouraged to keep gun locks to help prevent accidents. Gun locks are available at locations throughout St. Louis City and St. Louis County, including at area engine houses, police stations, and at some community organizations.