7-Year-Old Boy Shot By Stray Bullet In Vallejo, Hospitalized In Critical Condition
VALLEJO (CBS SF) -- A 7-year-old child suffered life-threatening injuries in a shooting in Vallejo Wednesday evening, according to police.
The incident was reported at 5:22 p.m. in the 800 block of Fifth Street, near the intersection of Fifth and Cherry streets. A witness told KPIX 5 the boy and his family were at a gathering to mourn a friend who just died.
"I heard gunshots and came out and seen a bunch of people running around," eyewitness Dedric Blount said.
When officers arrived on scene they were unable to locate the victim, but they later learned that the victim had been transported to a nearby hospital by family members. The child suffered serious, life-threatening injuries according to police.
Sources told KPIX 5 that the boy was shot in the torso. He was taken into surgery with a torn spleen and torn aorta.
Police said the boy was shot by a stray bullet in the midst of a gun battle involving several people, and that the shooters were firing indiscriminately.
"We're assuming they were shooting at people at the party randomly," Lt. Kevin Bartlett of the Vallejo Police Department told KPIX 5.
Investigators believe there were five or more suspects involved in the shooting, all of whom were described as black men who may have been associated with a dark colored vehicle, according to police.
As police look for the suspects, those who live in the neighborhood are furious.
"Kids shouldn't be caught in crossfire over grown people's stuff," said Renee Johnson.
"This used to be a very, very peaceful neighborhood," Blount said. "I never thought it would end up being like this."
Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call Detective Drew Ramsay with the Vallejo Police Department at (707) 651-7146.
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