Boy shot in ankle after groups argue
A teenage boy was shot Thursday afternoon in Little Rock during an argument between two groups over a cellphone, neighbors and a relative of the victim said.
Police spokesman Lt. Dana Jackson said the victim was shot in the ankle on Heather Lane west of Loma Drive. The victim had nonlife-threatening injuries. He was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for treatment. Officers had cordoned off the street Thursday afternoon and appeared to be searching a house in connection with the shooting.
Several residents said the disturbance began about 5 p.m. when two neighborhood groups of at least eight teenagers were standing in the street arguing over an iPhone. One group began walking away, then purportedly turned and fired multiple shots at the other group. It was unclear how many people were shooting.
A witness who said he was outside waxing his car when the shooting began said the victim didn’t initially realize he’d been hit. The boy walked around before a friend pointed out the bullet wound, he said. The victim is 17 years old, according to his stepfather, who fumed Thursday afternoon when discussing the incident but asked not to be identified.
Other residents who commented on the shooting also asked not to be identified, saying they believe the shooting was part of an ongoing beef between the two groups. They said they didn’t want to risk becoming involved in the dispute.
Jackson could not confirm the circumstances of the shooting, and it was unknown late Thursday if any arrests had been made in the case. An investigation is ongoing.
Arkansas, Pages 15 on 02/21/2014