8-year-old girl shot in Payne Phalen neighborhood playground
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Police say an 8-year-old girl was shot several times while at the playground in her neighborhood on Tuesday night.
Officers responded to a home on the 800 block of Bradley Street around 10:15 p.m. after a shooting was reported, per the St. Paul Police Department. The girl had been shot three times - in the neck, cheek, and back. She was taken to Regions Hospital, and is expected to survive.
Investigators say she and two other children were on the playground outside in the Payne Phalen neighborhood when gunfire erupted. The other children were not injured.
"Our investigators are doing the hard work of trying to determine who is responsible for this crime and the circumstances that led up to it," said St. Paul Police Sgt. Mike Ernster.
Investigators are looking for video or witnesses to help shed light on who would use the cover of darkness to shoot at an occupied townhome and hit and innocent child.
"We want 8-year-old girls to be able to go play on a playground without fear of being injured by gun violence," Ernster said.
Ernster added that gunshot victims numbers are down 28% this year, and shots fired are down 40%.
"I can tell you those numbers don't mean anything because we still have an 8-year-old girl in the hospital," Ernster added.
In order to interrupt the cycle of violence, police say they desperately need help from the community. They're asking anyone who knows of someone carrying an illegal weapon to call the police.
"We need to get people off our streets that are pulling the triggers in our communities and injuring people," Ernster said.
Police have no suspects in custody or even a motive in this shooting. If you have any information, St Paul Police would like to speak with you.
