MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 2-year-old boy was shot dead by his 4-year-old brother, according to Minneapolis Police.
Police said the shooting happened in Minneapolis’s Riverside neighborhood on the 1900 block of 7th Street South. They were called to the scene just before 1 p.m.
Authorities said the 2-year-old child was pronounced dead in the ambulance at the scene before he could be taken to the hospital. Family members identified the victim as Neegco Xiong.
According to Minneapolis Police Sgt. William Palmer, the toddler was shot while his brother was playing with a firearm.
Michelle Prestegard is a neighbor and witnessed the toddler receiving CPR.
“I saw the baby on the ground, on the grass next to the front steps and I saw paramedics performing CPR on the baby for quite a while,” said Prestegard. “They then stopped the CPR and then they picked him up. He had shorts and a T-shirt on. His body was just limp. His arms and his little legs fell back and they rushed him into the ambulance and the ambulance never left.”
Palmer says the parents and their 1-year-old were also home at the time of the incident. They also have a 5-year-old, who was not home at the time. Their children are in protective custody for the time being.
There have been no arrests, but the parents are being interviewed by investigators. The results of the investigation will be presented to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for review of criminal charges against the parents.
In Minnesota, a 4-year-old cannot be charged with a crime. It is also a crime in Minnesota to store a loaded firearm in a manner where a child can get a hold of it.
So far, no one has been identified by authorities.
