Toddler Shot In E 21st St Apartment

The NYPD says a 3-year-old boy was shot in the head early this morning in an apartment at 520 E 21st St. They say they responded to a call at about 3:30am and found the boy in the second floor apartment, struck in the left side of the head. He was in critical condition when he was transported to Kings County Hospital, then transferred to Columbia Presbyterian, then finally to Weill Cornell Medical Center. He’s reportedly in stable condition now.

The boy’s mother was not home, and he was in the care of a babysitter and another man, reports CBS. Police are investigating whether the shot was a stray bullet that came through the window, according to ABC, though NBC adds that it’s unclear if the shots came from inside or outside of the apartment — police were waiting for a warrant to get inside the building this morning — but that the man who was in the apartment was taken into custody for questioning. Neighbors add that the boy was still recovering after being bitten by a dog several months ago.

Our thoughts go out to the boy and his family, and we’ll update if we learn any additional information.