MESA, Ariz. — A 13-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after he was hit by gunfire while walking down the street, according to the Mesa Police Department.
Officers at 2;50 p.m. on Wednesday responded to a 911 call of a shooting near Rio Salado Parkway and Alma School Road. When they arrived, they found the boy with a gunshot wound on his shoulder. The boy and his friends were walking home from school when they heard a pop and the boy said he felt pain in his shoulder.
When he looked, it appeared to be a gunshot wound. He and his friends ran to his house and called 911, police said.
He was transported to the hospital and was awake and talking to officers, police said. His injuries are not life-threatening.
Police said Thursday the boy is now recovering at home.
Detectives are working to learn what happened. There is no suspect information at this time.
Police said investigators are exploring whether the shooting was a random event.
The department is asking for the public’s help if they were in the area at this time and saw anything that may be of value to the investigation. Anyone with information can call the police department's non-emergency number at 480-644-2211.
Silent Witness:
Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.
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