2-year-old injured in St. Paul shooting

Site of shooting
A 2-year-old boy was shot and injured in an incident at this St. Paul house on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012. Police say the shooting was likely accidental. The boy was taken to a hospital.
MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson

Police are investigating the apparently accidental shooting of a 2-year-old boy Thursday afternoon in a home on St. Paul's east side.

Sgt. Paul Paulos said paramedics were initially called to the 1300 block of Beech Street on reports of a child who fell and hurt himself. When emergency responders arrived, they saw the child had been shot.

Officers determined a 9 millimeter handgun had been fired in the house, Paulos said. A 16-year-old girl was at the home along with three other boys, ages 10, 9 and 7. All were relatives of the victim, who has been identified as Jacob Xiong.

"It's a tragic situation currently because preliminary investigation shows this probably will be an accidental shooting," Paulos said. "It's undetermined, the extent of the injuries the toddler does have. He was transported to Regions Hospital, where he received medical attention and is still alive currently."

Paulos said Xiong's parents weren't home at the time of the shooting, but they are cooperating with the investigation.

Paulos said the boy is in serious but stable condition. He said no one is under arrest and officers aren't looking for suspects.

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