10-year-old Merced boy shot during fireworks celebration
A 10-year-old Merced boy was struck by gunfire over the holiday weekend, Merced police reported Monday.
The child suffered a gunshot wound to his arm and leg. The injuries were not life-threatening, police said in a news release.
Officers said the boy was celebrating the Fourth of July with his family Saturday night in the 2300 block of Cortona Court when his parents heard him scream in pain. The family initially believed he may have been injured by exploding fireworks and only learned the injuries were from a gunshot when they arrived at Mercy Medical Center in Merced, police said.
“Neither the victim nor witnesses in the area heard or saw anything suspicious, and no one saw anyone firing a weapon,” police said in the statement. “It is possible that the victim was struck by a stray bullet that was fired illegally by someone celebrating in the area.”
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to please contact the Merced Police Department Detectives Division at 209 385-4702 or the tip line at 209 385-4725. Citizens can text a tip to TIP411 (847411) and using “comvip” as the first word in the text message.
This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 10:30 AM with the headline "10-year-old Merced boy shot during fireworks celebration."