Boy ‘tired’ of watching man abuse mom is shot trying to defend her, Missouri cops say
A Missouri man is accused of shooting a boy defending his mother during a domestic violence incident, police said.
The 39-year-old St. Louis man is charged with assault, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm, court records show. Attorney information was not available.
McClatchy News is not naming the man to protect the identity of the victim.
The man and the boy’s mother were arguing in a bedroom Oct. 22 when the boy entered and said “We’re tired of you putting your hands on our mom,” according to the criminal complaint.
The man and the juvenile began to fight before a witness intervened, police said.
Several minutes passed before the man and the boy began to “struggle” again and multiple gunshots were heard, according to the complaint.
The boy ran from the house holding his side, and a witness picked up a Glock 45 from the floor next to the 39-year-old, police said.
The victim was taken to a hospital where he had “emergency surgery for multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the abdomen,” police said.
The boy’s mother was “restraining” the man, asking “Why did you shoot my son?” according to the complaint.
The man said “he did what he had to do” because he believed her son was going to kill him, court records show.
The man is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond, according to court records.
Court records do not specify the man’s relationship to the other people involved.
The St. Louis man was convicted in 2013 of tampering with a victim and pleaded guilty in 2009 to possessing, manufacturing or selling an illegal weapon, court records show.
This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Boy ‘tired’ of watching man abuse mom is shot trying to defend her, Missouri cops say."
