Father of Belleville 4-year-old who was shot ‘appeared remorseful,’ judge said
The father of a 4-year-old boy who was wounded by a gunshot in his Belleville apartment on July 3 will remain held in the St. Clair County Jail until his trial on weapons and child endangerment charges, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Tyron Pembleton, 27, kept his gaze mostly on his lap and spoke with a shaky voice during a pretrial detention hearing. At times, he could be heard sniffling. His voice was clearest when one of six relatives present at the hearing said, “I love you,” and he responded, “I love y’all, too.”
Pembleton faces one count each of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and misdemeanor endangering the life or health of a child, as well as two counts of obstructing justice in connection with the shooting. He was arrested at his home in the first block of North 42nd Street on the morning of the incident.
Investigators determined the child accidentally shot himself. The boy remains hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
St. Clair County Associate Judge Sara Rice said Pembleton appeared remorseful for what had happened.
“But the evidence is sufficient that you had a firearm, and while possessing this firearm, this child was injured,” Rice said. “While the injury was not catastrophic, it will have a lasting impact.”
Prosecuting attorney Airika Detmer said the child told officers at the hospital that he had seen Pembleton place the gun under a bed.
Defense attorney Zac Luetkemeyer argued that any statements made by Pembleton or his child should be considered only in their context, noting that Pembleton was hysterical in the aftermath of the shooting and the child was wounded and in pain.
On the day of the shooting, Pembleton was reportedly in the shower when he heard a loud bang, Detmer said. After exiting the shower, he rushed the boy to Belleville Memorial Hospital.
Luetkemeyer said Pembleton called 911 before leaving the apartment but decided it would be faster to drive the boy to the hospital himself.
Detmer said that after arriving at the hospital, Pembleton did not describe how the shooting occurred and instead left quickly to pick up family members at his grandmother’s Belleville residence.
When initially interviewed by officers, Pembleton lied about where the shooting occurred and only told the truth during a subsequent interview, Detmer said.
Officers later arrived at the grandmother’s residence and found a gun tied up inside a plastic bag and then placed inside a trash bag, according to Detmer. Pembleton’s tan Lincoln Town Car was parked outside the home.
Luetkemeyer said Pembleton previously admitted there was a gun present but never admitted it was his gun or that he tried to hide it in the trash. He said the gun was left on the counter of the grandmother’s apartment.
“The fact remains that he should’ve never had the gun,” Detmer said. “The child will never walk the same again, but thankfully is alive.”
In addition to some traffic violations, Pembleton’s prior charges include unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest, according to St. Clair County court records.
This story was originally published July 8, 2025 at 5:40 PM.
