FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — A minor was injured in a drive-by shooting in Cumberland County Friday morning.
Just after midnight, Fayetteville Police and other officers were called to the scene on a report of a shooting in the 800 block of Danish Drive in Fayetteville.
Police said when they arrived on scene they found the boy had been shot, and the victim was taken to a trauma center in serious condition.
Heavy gunfire was heard on neighbors' security cameras, loud enough to shook several Ring doorbell cameras that captured the moment the car drove off.
At least 20 shell casings were scattered on the road.
FPD did not immediately confirm the child's age, but a neighbor told ABC11 the victim was under the age of 10. Police would not comment on the child's condition but said the child was transported to a trauma center after life-saving measures were administered at the scene.
ABC11 learned Friday night that the victim's father said his son is fighting for his life.
Residents said it was a horrifying reminder of how pervasive gun violence is in the community.
“We need to get involved because you never know when this trouble is going to knock on your door,” said Von Dockery, the anti-gun violence activist.
Dockery knows the pain of gun violence all too well: Her 8-year-old daughter, Genesis, was shot and killed at her babysitter's home in August. “It's a little disturbing and it reminds me of that phone call that day,” she added.
He said it's painful to see children continue to become victims of gun violence.
“This is affecting our whole community, with little kids looking at their peers, kids their age, and saying, 'They're going to die in a blink of an eye.' So now, instead of kids living beautiful lives, we have a community living in fear,” he said.
Dockery offered some words of advice to the parents of the children involved in this latest incident.
“Support is there,” he said. “There are people who want to be listened to, there are people who need to be heard, and they will be listened to.”
Cornelius Breazeale has lived on Danish Drive for more than four years. He said he wasn't awake when the shooting happened, but his brother called him and said his house was on TV.
“I looked out my window and the street was full of police and taped off. It's just so sad,” he said. “We're from Philadelphia and we moved from Philadelphia to get away from this and to come here and have to go through this… it's frustrating.”
“There are too many guns on the streets and people need to stick together and look out for each other,” Breazeale said.
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