A boy was taken to the hospital Saturday evening after police say he shot himself in Eagan, prompting an emergency response to a residential block on Covington Lane.
Officers were called just after 6 p.m. to a reported weapons incident on the 1900 block of Covington Lane, where they found a boy with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to KSTP. Police say officers provided first aid at the scene before the child was transported to Regions Hospital for treatment. As of Saturday, officials were not releasing the boy’s condition, and detectives told KSTP they were continuing to investigate what led up to the shooting.
Police Response and Public Information
As of Sunday, Eagan’s public press releases page did not list an update on the incident. The city’s website also includes police contact information and a portal for submitting tips. See the City of Eagan press releases and the Eagan Police Department page for official contacts and reporting options.
State and National Context
Public-health reporting shows youth firearm injuries remain a serious concern in Minnesota. In 2024, 35 Minnesotans age 19 or younger died by firearm, and hospitals treated 106 youth for nonfatal gunshot wounds, according to reporting by the Post Bulletin that cites Minnesota Department of Health figures.
Nationwide, firearm-related deaths and nonfatal injuries have also been substantial in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes national data tracking the burden of both fatal and nonfatal firearm harm.
Prevention and Resources
Officials and safety advocates frequently highlight secure firearm storage as a practical step to help reduce accidental shootings and limit youth access to guns. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s “Make Minnesota Safe and Secure” initiative has distributed tens of thousands of free cable gun locks and maintains information on how to request locks and find safe-storage guidance, per the state DPS…