Brave Minnesota boy, 8, is shot dead while protecting his mother 'from abusive partner who fired gun at her'

An eight-year-old paid with his life after trying to protect his mother from an enraged father who shot the little boy instead.

Amir Harden, 8, was shot in the head and neck when he stepped between Danair Harden and his partner Cherish Edwards in Minnesota on June 5.

A court had been warned just hours earlier that the father posed 'an immediate threat' after assaulting the mother days before, but he was able to return to the family home in Burnsville.

Amir was shot in front of his mother and four young siblings before Harden turned the gun on himself, in an apparent unsuccessful suicide attempt.

'We're finally free of him, but my child paid the ultimate sacrifice,' Edwards said.

'My children are traumatized. It's going to take years, if it ever goes away.'

Amir Harden, 8, was shot in the head and neck when he stepped between Danair Harden and his partner Cherish Edwards in Minnesota on June 5

A court had been warned just hours earlier that the father Danair Harden posed 'an immediate threat' to the family but he was freed on $4,000 bail 

Harden, 30, had been reported for assault on May 30 after allegedly trying to strangle Edwards when she told him she was ending their 10-year relationship.

Edwards warned officers that Harden had a gun permit and almost always carried one with him.

Prosecutors asked for bail to be set at $10,000 when he appeared to answer charges of domestic assault and disorderly conduct at Dakota County District Court on June 5.

'He follows or spies on her or leaves threatening messages,' they told the court, and 'poses an immediate threat to (Edwards') safety'.

But Judge Dannia Edwards set bail at $4,000, and Harden left the jail at 4.50pm, appearing back at the family home shortly before midnight.

Police called to the scene where they found both father and son with gunshot wounds.

They were taken by emergency responders to Hennepin County Medical Center where Amir died on Sunday and Harden remains in a critical condition.

'Amir wanted to protect his Mommy,' Edwards said.

'It's just unimaginable, an eight-year-old trying to wrestle the gun out of a grown man's hand. It's unbearable pain.'

'I screamed for him to leave and go to the neighbors. He refused and said 'mommy, I'm not leaving you here'.

Cherish Edwards pictured with Amir's grandfather Deon Edwards said her other four children are traumatized by what they witnessed 

Edwards paid tribute to Amir saying he had been a gifted athlete and a 'very happy little boy'

A police spokeswoman said an investigation is underway and Harden may face criminal charges if he survives.

'We don't know that the child was an intended target, and that's part of what is still under investigation,' she added.

Edwards paid tribute to Amir saying he had been a gifted athlete and a 'very happy little boy'.

'He was courageous. He was a leader, a protector of his siblings. He was my biggest cheerleader.

'Every day I go to work, he'd say, 'Have a good day, Mommy. I love you'.'

An online fundraiser has raised $8,900 for the traumatized family.

'It's a nightmare that you can't wake up from, said Deon Edwards, Amir's grandfather.

Edward's said her former partner had a history of violent abuse and urged women with similar partners to escape.

'It doesn't matter if he hit you 10 years ago, he's got to leave,' she said.

'Next time that'd be your life or your child's life. I think a lot of women think it'll never be them.'