The family of a 12-year-old Minnesota boy who was shot on Friday night has spoken out in the hope that information about the shooting will help authorities solve the crime.
The victim was identified by relatives as Jamar Williams, reported Fox 9.
The relatives said that the boy was shot just outside of his home in North Minneapolis around 10 p.m. Williams was going to the store with his mother and brothers when he was shot.
Solomon Blackwell, the boy’s stepfather, told the broadcaster that family members believe Williams was shot after he witnessed a break-in across the street.
“All I know is, I was in the house playing the game and all I heard was five gunshots go off: one, two, three, four, five,” said Blackwell.
“He must have said, oh snap, or something that triggered them to make them scared, to make him get noticed. They said he just fired at him and he said he hid behind my car.”
Relatives of the 12-year-old boy say he was shot outside of his home just after 10 p.m. Friday. https://t.co/p8qr7H7IQC
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One of the bullets struck Williams in the knee. Family members rushed him to the hospital, where he had surgery on Saturday. He’s expected to make a full recovery.
“I’m glad he’s still living, to be honest,” Blackwell said. “Because somebody shooting directly at him and missed that many times and one bullet just happened to catch him out of five, and it hit him below instead of up here.”
The Minneapolis Police Department said that it’s investigating the shooting while City Council member Phillipe Cunningham has launched a fundraiser to help Williams’ family with medical expenses.