A 12-year-old boy is recovering after a bullet tore through the wall of his family’s North Nashville apartment and struck him in the leg Wednesday night, according to Metro PD.
Investigators say the shooting broke out during a large fight in the apartment complex parking lot. The boy was inside with his parents when at least two rounds hit the exterior wall of the unit.
Neighbors described chaos as the fight escalated. LeeVaughn Word, who lives nearby, said he was asleep before the noise outside pulled him awake.
“I saw a group of kids fighting. Two girls fighting and then all of a sudden gun shots. A lot of gun shots,” Word said.
Jameelah Christman, another nearby resident, said her daughter was outside when the shooting started. She estimated she heard around 30 shots.
“I was in the window. I just heard shots. I got down. I told my daughter to get back in the house, made sure her and my grandkids were all right,” Christman said.
Several people in the area said they mistook the gunfire for fireworks at first, and many said this kind of violence is not new to the complex.
“That’s the crazy part. You can’t be safe in your own house. Bullets don’t have eyes, so when stuff happens the best thing to do is get lowest to the ground until everything is over,” Christman said.
She said she felt for the boy and his family.
“I feel bad for the child. That’s trauma for the child. Like he innocent. In the house, minding his own business and have to deal with this for the rest of his life. That’s traumatic.”
Residents are now calling for changes at the complex, including stronger security measures and more activities to keep children safe and occupied.
The boy was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment and is expected to recover.
Police said everyone involved in the fight fled before officers arrived. Investigators are now reviewing surveillance footage from the property as they work to identify those responsible. No arrests have been made, and this story is still developing.