Child wounded in shooting at Louisville park; witnesses say it was a driveby
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A 9-year-old suffered extensive damage to his leg after being shot while playing basketball in a Louisville park. The child's name is not being released, but community activist Christopher 2X tells WAVE 3 News the boy is a Whitney Young Elementary School student.
The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. June 8 at Ballard Park in the 500 block of Caldwell Street. Witnesses told police that two cars pulled up and started shooting at the kids playing in the park. The nine year old was randomly hit.
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Ronald Johnson lives across from Ballard Park and heard the gunshots ring out.
"Sounded like firecrackers," said Johnson. "Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow. All the kids were just scattering. They was all upset they didn't know what to do they were just running around in circles."
Johnson believes the shooting is gang related. Others hope police can figure out whoever was behind it.
"They need to get them off the streets fast," said Charice Moss, a Smoketown resident. "It could be anybody's kids. It could be mine or it could be your kids out here playing just having innocent fun and get shot up for no reason."
The boy who was shot was driven to University of Louisville Hospital. He was later transferred to Kosair Children's Hospital. 2X says the bullet was lodged in the boys leg and he was undergoing surgery Tuesday. No one else was hurt.
LMPD has not made any arrests in this case. If you have any information call 574-LMPD (5673).
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