ST. PAUL (WCCO) – Police say a 2-year-old St. Paul boy was shot in the head after one of the boy’s siblings found a handgun in an unlocked cabinet.
St. Paul Fire Medics were called around noon Thursday to the 1300 block of Beech Street on a call that a child had fallen. Officials later determined the child was shot.
Police say the toddler, identified as Jacob Xiong, was shot once in the head and taken to Regions Hospital. Relatives said he underwent successful surgery at Regions and was moved to Gillette Children’s Hospital.
Investigators say one of Xiong’s siblings found the gun in a cabinet and believed that it wasn’t loaded. The gun went off and a 9mm bullet struck Xiong in the head.
Police said Xiong was home with his three siblings — ages 7, 9 and 10 — as well as a 16-year-old relative who was babysitting when the shooting occurred.
“Children are snoops, they explore,” said Sgt. Paul Paulos, of the St. Paul Police. “What they found fascinating ended in a tragic situation.”
Officers say they are not seeking any suspects in connection with the incident.
The child’s grandfather emigrated from Laos after the Vietnam war, looking to start a new life, safe from war. Now he’s feeling the painful consequences of when guns fall into the wrong hands.
“I scared he die,” he said. “I love him.”
