5 Year Old Shot In East St. Louis

A five year old girl is hospitalized after being hit by a stray bullet in East St. Louis. The gunshot was intended for one of three men involved in an argument down the street near the intersection of 15th and Broadway. A man working in a store nearby says he was waiting on a customer when he heard about five shots ring out. He wasn't sure what happened until police came inside asking questions.

Just minutes earlier, police say two men on foot and a third in a car got into an argument outside the store on Broadway. The two on foot reportedly fled into the Orr-Weathers apartments across the street. When they returned, one had a gun.

East St. Louis Police Chief, Col. Lenzie Stewart, says they went straight for the car.

"Came back to the area of the store and started shooting at the vehicle," he says.


The gunman missed his target, but the stray bullet hit the little girl in the neck. She was down the street with her mother.

Police say a worker at the apartment complex saw what happened, swooped up the little girl, and rushed her to the hospital. He acted so fast, police weren't initially sure if they had a victim. A phone call from the hospital confirmed that.

Meanwhile, at least two undercover police task forces were operating in the area. They were so close, they heard the gunfire. As they arrived, the gunman and his accomplice were trying to run for it. The two men were grabbed and arrested.

East St. Louis Police made up only a small part of the contingent that made the two arrests. Illinois State Police, and even federal marshals were there. Why? Police won't say specifically.

Col. Stewart did let on that, "this is one of our hot spots and they were just in the area helping us out, checking on drugs and guns."

East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks, calls the little girl's shooting, "alarming and frustrating."

He goes on to say, "this underscores the reason we need to get guns off the street."

The cashier in the Broadway Market next door agrees. He wouldn't give his name, but says "that's really sad. I feel really sad for the mom, I mean this is ridiculous. Not a baby."

The girl remains in serious condition at an area hospital.