Child Caught in Crossfire: 12-Year-Old Boy Injured in West Birmingham Shooting

A 12-year-old boy was injured during a shooting incident at a west Birmingham residence on Saturday evening. Authorities reported that the boy is expected to make a full recovery.

The incident occurred shortly before 6:30 p.m. in the Central Park neighborhood, specifically in the 4900 block of Avenue Q. When officers from the West Precinct arrived, they found the child at a home in the 1600 block of 49th Street Ensley, close to where the shooting took place.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service promptly transported the boy to Children’s of Alabama. His injuries, though serious, are not life-threatening.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald explained that it is uncertain whether the boy was directly shot or grazed, but he sustained an upper body injury.

According to investigators, the shooting stemmed from an argument between two men, one of whom is believed to be the boy’s father. The men, who knew each other, exchanged gunfire, with one inside the house and the other outside, firing into the residence which was occupied by multiple people.

The city's Shot Spotter system detected five rounds being fired, and several shell casings were found on the street.

“Neither of the shooters was hit,’’ Fitzgerald stated. “However, a bullet might have penetrated the house, injuring the 12-year-old.”

Fitzgerald added that all involved parties are known to the police, and detectives are working to gather all necessary facts to present the case to the district attorney’s office for potential charges.

“It will depend on who fired the first shot and who was the aggressor,’’ he said.

The homeowner stayed at the scene and is cooperating with the police. The second shooter fled but is known to the authorities.

“This is yet another case where a dispute between adults resulted in an innocent child getting hurt,’’ Fitzgerald remarked.