DETROIT (WXYZ) — Police are investigating the shootings of two children in Detroit – one 4-year-old fatally shot and a 3-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound.
Here is preliminary information from DPD.
Fatal Shooting on 18600 block of Birwood
On May 21 around 12:50 a.m. in the 18600 block of Birwood, unknown suspect fired shots into the house striking the 4-year-old boy in the body. The boy was taken to a local hospital by medics where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Family members identified the boy as 4-year-old Nathaniel Messiah Townsend. Though cousin, Deangelo Rucker, was not at the home at the time of the shooting, he told 7 Action News reporter Darren Cunningham their family was having a get-together when someone shot into the house.
"I'm so hurt. I can't even express it but it's just a wake up call. My lil cousin got killed over something that don't nobody even know," said Rucker.
Young Messiah was in the kitchen was he was shot.
"I just seen, just seen him. Just seen him," said Rucker. "For a kid to get killed that's just tragic and it hurts. Everybody devastated. Friends and all."
Suspect may have been in a white GMC Mini-Van.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 313-596-2260, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up.
Non-Fatal Shooting on 7400 block of Nett
On May 20 around 10:00 p.m. in the 7400 block of Nett, the 3-year-old girl was seated in a car seat in the back seat of her mother's gray 2011 Dodge Charger when unknown suspects were shooting at each other.
The toddler was struck in the body and was privately taken to a local hospital.
She was listed in temp-serious condition, police say.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit Police Department’s Eleventh Precinct at 313-596-1140, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up.
