DETROIT (WXYZ) — A teenage boy was shot near a church and bus stop as he was heading to the store to purchase a beverage on Detroit's west side Wednesday.
The shooting happened just before 4 p.m. in the area of 7 Mile Road and Gilchrist Street.
Detroit police are looking to speak with two persons of interest who they say were near the scene at the time. The first person is a female with locs who was wearing a white tank top and black Adidas track pants. The second person is a female who was wearing a black Adidas jogging outfit.
Anyone who recognizes them or has information about the shooting is asked to call the Detroit Police Department's 8th Precinct at 313-596-5840 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP
Police say the situation began with an argument.
The victim's mom told 7 News Detroit that her son,13-year-old Darrell Floyd, is a good kid and doesn't get into trouble.
“I had sent him to the store and on his way to the store, I heard gunshots," the teen's mom Shanikqua Langston said. “They were very loud. It was two of them.”
Langston quickly ran from her home after hearing the gunfire, finding her son bloodied and on the ground, seeing two people running away. She called 911.
Langston said Darrell was shot in the thigh and lower back area and is recovering at Children’s Hospital of Michigan downtown. He was hospitalized in serious condition but is expected to be OK.
“He’s not a bad little boy. He like to play basketball. Him and his brother go through altercations, but he’s not a bad kid,” Langston said.
The quick escalation of the argument between the victim and suspects has the community concerned.
“I don’t think it’s just a Detroit issue. I think it’s a nationwide problem. People tend to resort to gun violence rather than solving a dispute in another manner, so obviously the police department and city message is don’t use a gun to solve your issues,” Detroit Police Department Capt. Matthew Bray said.
Neighbors say they’re happy no one else was hurt.
“It could’ve been me, anybody catching the bus, so whoever did this, I hope they can find the person,” William Cook, who lives in the area, said.
“Whoever you are, I need you guys to turn yourselves in. Y’all shot my 13-year-son. Whatever the beef was, whatever it was, I just want y’all to turn yourselves in,” Langston said.
