Minnesota boy, 8, fatally shot in head while protecting mom from abusive dad who was recently released from jail
A 8-year-old Minnesota boy was fatally shot while protecting his mother from his dad, who had just been released from jail on domestic violence charges, his heartbroken family said.
Amir Harden was shot in the head and neck at his family’s home in Burnsville on the night of June 5, according to the medical examiner.
“His father tried to shoot & kill me but my son was shot instead. Amir tried wrestling the gun out of his father (sic) hand,” Amir’s mom, Cherish Edwards, wrote on a GoFundMe account started in the wake of the tragedy.
“I screamed for him to leave and go to the neighbors, he refused & said ‘Mommy, I’m not leaving you here,’” the grieving mom recalled.
Amir’s father, Danair Harden, 30, shot himself in the head after his son was shot, Edwards said.
Police and firefighters responded and transported Amir and his father to the hospital, the Star Tribune reported.
Amir died at Hennepin County Medical Center on Sunday, the medical examiner’s report said.
Danair Harden is still hospitalized in critical condition, the Star Tribune said.
Amir’s four siblings witnessed the shooting, Edwards said.
“My kids are traumatized & probably will need therapy for the rest of their lives,” she wrote on GoFundMe.
On May 30, Harden allegedly choked Edwards when she tried to end their 10-year relationship, the Star Tribune noted.
He supposedly tried to stop her from calling for help, and fled before authorities arrived.
Edwards told police that Harden had a gun permit, and that she was worried he might assault her again.
Harden was finally arrested around 3 a.m. on the day of the deadly shooting and charged with interfering with an emergency call, domestic assault and disorderly conduct.
He appeared a few hours later in court, where prosecutors claimed he posed an ongoing threat to Edwards.
The prosecution asked for bail to be set at $10,000, and requested that the judge issue a no-contact order and demand that he turn in his firearms to law enforcement.
The judge, however, released Harden on $4,000 bail. He left the jail around 4:50 p.m. that day — just a few hours before Amir was shot, the Star Tribune said.
“This case is still under investigation,” a spokesperson for the Burnsville Police Department told The Post on Thursday.
“We believe there was a family situation that led to the incident. The suspect is still in critical condition in the hospital so no charges have been brought at this time,” they added.
As of Thursday afternoon, the GoFundMe for Amir’s family had raised nearly $13,000 — well over the initial $10,000 goal.
