Police say a 9-year-old girl was fatally wounded; a 45-year-old woman remains hospitalized after they were found inside a burning home.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A 9-year-old girl and a 45-year-old woman were found shot inside a burning house just after midnight Sunday in the Walnut Park West neighborhood, authorities said. Firefighters put out the blaze and officers then learned both victims had gunshot wounds before they were rushed to a hospital.
Police said the case is being handled by homicide detectives after the child died later Sunday. The woman remained in critical, unstable condition as of Monday. The overnight incident unfolded on the 5700 block of Floy in North St. Louis, where investigators from the Bomb and Arson Unit were called to assist. Detectives are gathering evidence to determine how the fire started, who fired the shots and whether the shooting and fire were connected. No arrests had been announced by Monday morning.
Officers were dispatched around 12:10 a.m. Sunday for a house fire. After St. Louis fire crews extinguished flames, responders found the girl and woman inside with gunshot wounds and requested urgent transport. “Homicide detectives are investigating,” the department said in a brief update, adding that the scene included both a shooting and a structure fire. In a later notice, police identified the child as Paige Buckner and confirmed she died at the hospital on Sunday. The adult victim’s name was not released. Investigators said they were processing the home and surrounding block for shell casings, accelerant evidence and video from nearby cameras.
Authorities said both victims were listed initially in critical and unstable condition after being taken to an area hospital. The department later updated the case classification to a homicide following the child’s death. Detectives have not publicly identified any suspects, described a possible motive or said whether a weapon was recovered. The Bomb and Arson Unit was requested to examine the fire’s origin and to determine if the blaze was intentionally set. Police emphasized that the sequence of events—whether the shooting led to the fire or followed it—remains under investigation. The address sits near the city’s far north side, with homes clustered along narrow blocks where several cameras are mounted on porches and at intersections.
Walnut Park West has seen recurring violent incidents in recent years, and detectives often canvass for doorbell footage and late-night traffic camera clips after shootings. Sunday’s call came during the season when overnight temperatures push more residents indoors and windows are closed, which can limit witness visibility but amplify the sound of gunfire for neighbors. While police have not linked this case to another incident, investigators typically review recent reports within a mile radius for patterns in vehicle descriptions, calibers or methods. The department’s homicide division also coordinates with federal partners when arson is suspected because fire can be used to destroy evidence after gunfire.
Police said additional updates will come after the medical examiner completes work and detectives finish interviews. If an arrest occurs, prosecutors could consider charges including first-degree murder, first-degree assault and arson, depending on findings. The department did not announce a briefing, but routine timelines include evidence testing results and any surveillance stills that can be shared publicly. As of Monday, the investigation’s next step includes confirming the fire’s cause and tracking the movements of people seen near the home shortly before 12:10 a.m. on Sunday.
By Monday evening, the home on Floy remained taped off while evidence technicians documented the interior. Neighbors stepped around frozen hoses and char marks on the front doorway as officers rotated in and out. “Detectives are working to find out the cause and circumstances of this incident,” the department said, noting that additional information would be released when confirmed. The woman remained hospitalized, and police did not release her condition beyond critical and unstable.
As of late Monday, police had not announced an arrest or suspect description and had not said whether the fire was accidental or set. Investigators expect to release more details after collecting video and lab results later this week.
Author note: Last updated December 22, 2025.