Family: Shooting of 12-year-old girl and 14-year-old cousin in downtown St. Louis was accidental

A 12-year-old girl and her 14-year-old cousin were killed in what their family is calling an accidental shooting caught on an Instagram live stream overnight in downtown St. Louis.

Police are investigating the shooting, which happened just after 2 a.m. at an apartment complex near 10th and Spruce streets, as a murder-suicide.

Shinise Harvey said she let her 12-year-old daughter, Paris Harvey, go to a family party there to celebrate March birthdays.


"Everybody was getting together to celebrate, and so the younger kids, they got a bed and breakfast," Shinise Harvey said of the party at the Cupples Apartment Complex. "They were making a video and she was playing with the gun, but it went off and hit him.

"She dropped the gun, and it fell, and it went off to my knowledge, and then when she picked it up, she picked it up by the barrel and it went off and that's all I know...It was not a suicide. It was just a freak accident."

Police say the boy was shot first, and the little girl was shot with the same gun.

The boy was previously identified as a 13-year-old, but he had just celebrated a birthday. His mother did not attend the party, either, according to a family member who answered the door at her house but did not want to be identified.

Shinise Harvey said her nephew was also her godson, and she didn't know who the gun belonged to or how her daughter found it.

"With all that family there, they should have basically made sure she was OK," Shinise Harvey said. "Everybody should have stuck with somebody.

"We've got to look out for each other. We're a family. And they're young."

Police are still investigating who owned the gun, and whether anyone can be charged for the shooting.

It was an emotional scene overnight, as family and friends of the victims gathered at the scene.

The shooting was one of several incidents comprising a violent night in St. Louis. At about 4 a.m., an officer shot a man who had stabbed another officer in the vest during a domestic disturbance call on Genevieve Avenue. The officer was not injured.

Also overnight, a man was found shot in the head in a car on the 1000 block of Theobald Street. At least 31 people have been shot and killed in St. Louis this year, according to the police department.

[sylvesterwilliams]

I’m a legal gun owner myself and it’s SO IMPORTANT that we apply to the number one rule of having a firearm is to apply to the safety rules. It’s so important people. It’s serious business when handling with firearms. I am in total shock to hear about this tragedy. Im so heartbroken!!

[jenniferfernanded]

“Found the gun “ no they didn’t find the gun THERE ARE MULTIPLE VIDOES OF HER SON PLAYING AROUND WITH THE GUN TAKING PICTURES SMOKING WHILE POINTING THE GUN. He had full access to it they both did.
YOU LET THOSE BABIES DOWN.

[chiffonxo]

I saw the video . She most definitely killed herself out of shock . She didn’t even scream after he fell, it was like she fell down to check on him and realized the fate of the situation and grabbed the gun to kill herself . There’s a brief pause in between him falling and her shooting herself. She did not pick up the gun immediately when he fell either. It did not go off when she dropped it nor when she was holding by the barrel in the beginning upside down . It didn’t even go off when her finger was just sitting on the trigger it went off exactly when she pulled it thinking it was empty. The gun didn’t go off by accident but yes she accidentally killed him. I’m saying it because when you analyze the video and watch it a few times the gun was just not on safety. She sat up after she fell to check on him and it was like you can tell in that moment she turned the gun on herself. No crying, no screaming — just shock and instant regret. Truly sad .

[ArielTheApostolic]

I believe, after the girl accidentally shot him, she got so freaked out, so she committed suicide. I think she knew she wouldn’t be able to live with herself, so she picked up the gun closed her eyes, and shot herself. Overall, it’s such a horrible accident, and I pray God blessed and watches over the family.

[MelanatedHighPriestess]

If you are a parent the best thing you can do is to educate your children about gun safety regardless if you own a gun or not. As a parent it's the parents job to educate our children about life (whether that be having the talk not talking strangers, or the talk about body changes, the sex talk, the talk about stay away from drugs, teaching them how to drive etc etc gun safety should be included in these many discussions we have with our children) children are curious by nature, they won't know about something unless you have these hard uncomfortable conversations with them. So you can better prepare your children on how to handle a situation, get out of an unsafe situation, and what not to do. Guns are not the problem, irresponsible people are. If you own a gun keep it locked up it's that simple. (but again you can only control your own household regardless if you own a gun or don't, if your visiting another household they may not be as responsible which again is why educating children about gun safety is important. )

[Rocky-zr]

In the video you can hear the mother say 'don't shoot that', so the mother knew that they had access to it.

[yayamorgan]

Please please PLEASE. If you own a gun SECURE it! I wouldn’t even tell
my kids where I keep the gun so they can try to look “cool” and play with it on social media live. This is so sad. Could of been avoided. R.i.p. let’s do better at protecting children.

[DlcLotus]

You can hear a woman (I'm guessing the mother) asking something akin to "Why ya'll shoot shit?" She knew the kids had a gun, or at the least had easy access.

[sunsdx]

This is so heartbreaking my heart goes out the family and the two young children and its disgusting to hear people blame her and call the young girl “demonic” SHES 12 y’all need to chill and pray for this family

[gachasis]

painful and just heartbreaking. Condolences to the families.

[joseumana]

I’m sorry but that wasn’t the fun going off. The gun dropped, she picked it up and shot herself. Those who’ve seen the vid know that. It did not “accidentally go off.” That worry and guilt she felt overwhelmed her. Rest up to 2 young souls.

[marseanmoore]

A Brother and Sister must bury their babies, and then live with such a horrific tragedy. The what and why questions will haunt them. God help their families.

[pacastile]

This was so tragic and was 100 percent avoidable. These parents need to be held accountable and do a better job raising their children. I watched the video and during all of the commotion after the shooting I heard a male voice saying they got the Glock. They need to interview and investigate every single person that was at the party. I bet there were plenty other guns at that party.

[niab]

I was in absolute shock just earlier today when a friend of mine showed me the video and I just so happened to stumble upon this. Absolutely heartbreaking. PLEASE, if you own a gun and there are children inside the house, please, please make sure it is secured.

[HumorHeals]

This is so heartbreaking. Prayers to all the families and friends.

[chosenvessels]

I can not watch someone elses pain intentionally. My love and hope goes out to the family and children. May we spread more love and positivity to all. Let this be a teachable moment for the good...let our kids know accidents happen, never intentionally harm yourself, and NEVER TO PLAY WITH GUNS! Our prayers are with the family!💜

[aye_its_karate]

“She was playing with the gun” that’s the first mistake. You don’t play with a gun.
I seen the video. She had the gun pressed up against the back of his head. What kind of bullshit is that?

[hw]

This is sad and the actual video has been playing in my head all day.
This is why it’s not only important to keep guns locked with kids around but to also teach kids gun safety. I teach my nieces who are 12 and under about gun safety so they know how dangerous they are and how to properly handle one if they have to.

[madisonnn]

She definitely pulled the trigger on herself on purpose, it’s so sad…she couldn’t live with that, R.I.P to them both young beautiful souls

[Ziynaeee_]

that baby didnt mean to kill her cousin or herself. I know she shouldn’t have had it to his head in the first place but she killed herself out of shock. My heart is hurting for them babies for real . Stop having guns up in these homes that have babies, toddlers and kids in it because its going to result into something big and tragic.