8-year-old boy shot by father while protecting mother from him, family says

An 8-year-old Minnesota boy died Sunday after protecting his mother from a shooting allegedly committed by his father, his family said.

Danair Harden, 30, allegedly shot his son Amir Harden on June 5 according to the Star Tribune. The boy was rushed to a local Hennepin County hospital but died from his injuries several days later.

According to the Star Tribune, Harden was in Dakota County District Court earlier that day on domestic violence charges. He allegedly strangled Cherish Edwards, Amir Harden’s mother, at home just days before the shooting.

Edwards had told police she feared Harden would attack her again as there had been several other domestic disputes between them years ago, according to a charging document cited by the newspaper. She also told officers that Harden had a permit to carry a handgun and often carried one.

A spokesperson for the Burnsville Police Department told JS in an email that “authorities believe there was a family situation that led to the incident,” adding that there were other people in the home at the time.

Edwards provided more details about the shooting in a GoFundMe.

She said she was Harden’s original target, but her son tried to wrestle the gun out of his father’s hand and was shot instead.

“I screamed for him to leave and go next door, but he refused and said ‘mommy, I’m not leaving you here,’” Edwards wrote.

According to the fundraiser, Harden shot himself in the head immediately after shooting his son.

In an interview with local news channel KSTPEdwards said Amir’s four siblings were home at the time of the shooting and witnessed their brother being shot. She opened up to the outlet about the guilt she feels and the sadness after Amir’s death.

“That bullet was for me and not for my child,” she said.

Burnsville police responded to the shooting on June 5 around 11:48 p.m. and found a child and an adult in critical condition, according to a news release shared with JS. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the boy as Amir Harden.

Police said in the news release that the adult suspect is being treated for injuries from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The spokesperson told JS that “no arrest has been made as the suspected shooter remains in critical condition.”

Amir was “known for his infectious smile, kind heart and his presence,” Logan Schultz, his elementary school principal, told JS in a statement.

“Our sincere condolences go out to Amir’s family, friends and the entire Echo Park Elementary School community as we mourn this tragic loss together,” Schultz wrote.

In an interview with KSTP, Edwards had a message for other mothers living with domestic violence.

“I know a lot of women try to see the good, especially if you have children with that person. Or if you think you’re alone or you don’t have help, and you can’t leave, you feel stuck,” Edwards said.

“I didn’t want my family to be an example of what can happen. But unfortunately we are,” she added.

This is evident from research published by National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women has experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. The organization also cited the presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation as increasing the risk of homicide by 500%.

Need help? In the US, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.