Child fighting for his life after being shot

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — A child is fighting for his life after being shot in Shreveport.

“We have what appears to be a 13-year-old shot in the buttocks and (the bullet) came out of the lower abdomen, so we consider it to be life-threatening,” said a police spokesman on the scene of the shooting on Elmview Place that was reported to authorities at 6:58 p.m. Monday, July 26.

Civilians at the scene told KSLA News 12 that the teenager was walking home with a family member when a dark-colored car pulled up next to them and shot the teen. Police described the vehicle as a KIA sedan.

A nearby neighbor said she heard the gunfire — “one single gunshot” — then ran toward the teen when she heard him calling for help.

“Me, my goddaughter and my daughter ran over there to try and help him. We heard him say ‘Help me, help me.’ We didn’t know where he was shot because he was bleeding everywhere,” the woman recounted.

“His cousin ran to go get his Mom. The little boy was able to give his number to my neighbor across the street to call his Momma. We called the paramedics and them and the police were on their way.”

The woman said she and her neighbor across the street held a towel on the teen’s stomach so he wouldn’t bleed out.

“I just have to say it’s horrible,” the neighbor said. “It’s sad. I have never seen something like this in my life.

“I have been on this street 24 years, and this is my first time experiencing someone get shot. Right in front of my house,” she continued.

“I don’t know what we are going to do about this. What can we do about this? Everybody got guns. It’s pitiful.

“My heart goes out to that baby. He is just a baby. I’m just really disturbed right now. I just wish all of this could stop.”

Local activist Breka Peoples was out at the scene. She said enough is enough. “It’s getting worse, it’s getting worse. The caskets are getting shorter.

“We need to come together as a community to fight this because it’s going to take all of us,” Peoples said. “This don’t make any sense. It was in broad daylight. He was walking home. We got to reprogram our children. The help is here. We have organizations that are reaching out. We need the community to come together. He is just a child.”

Shreveport Councilman Jerry Bowman also was at the scene. “It’s unfortunate, it’s senseless, it’s heartbreaking.

“I ask everyone if you see something, say something. SPD needs your help,” the councilman said. “If you don’t want to talk to SPD, you can call me.

“My heart goes out to this 13-year-old and his family.”

The wounded child was taken to Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport for treatment.

Responding officers found a shell casing and witnesses on the scene between Pickwick Place and Woodmont Place that is immediately east of Hyde Park, the police spokesman said.

“That’s all we know at this time other than the fact that the suspect left in a dark-colored KIA sedan.”

Authorities urge anyone with any information about this shooting to call Shreveport police detectives at (318) 673-7300 or (318) 673-6955.

Or contact Caddo-Shreveport Crime Stoppers by calling (318) at 673-7373, using the organization’s website or using the P3 Tips app to provide information anonymously.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for this shooting.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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