An 8-year-old boy hit by gunfire Sunday had surgery late Sunday evening.
Darious Calhoun, Sr. said Darious, Jr. was the innocent victim of a gun battle near the family home in Northwest Atlanta.
The shooting happened near Mango Circle and Monteel Drive NW.
Witnesses told Atlanta police the young boy was out playing with no idea that an illegal gun sale was going down nearby.
Several neighbors said that just before 8 p.m., bullets started flying when the would be buyer decided not to make the purchase, according to police.
Neighbor Anthony Dowdell told CBS Atlanta News that he heard the gunfire.
“Gun shots, I just saw people running up the street,” said Dowdell. “Somebody went up the street and started shooting at the vehicle. During the process the little kid who was riding the bike got shot.”
Calhoun, Sr. said his son was shot in the lower back and that the bullet exited out the front.
Moments after the shooting, the scared and wounded boy ran into his home.
His cousin, 14-year-old Taquavious Dunlap, spotted the blood and ran to tell the adults.
“He was just shocked. He was feeling it. He was holding it and he was bleeding everywhere. He didn’t want to say anything at all,” said Taquavious.
The boy was flown Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston after his father rushed him to a hospital near their home.
Atlanta police are still investigating the shooting. No arrest has been made at this time.
SOURCE: CBS Atlanta
