WASHINGTON — A 12-year-old boy was shot while walking with his brother and stepfather in Northeast, D.C. on Wednesday evening, D.C. police said.
Officials said the family was walking at Marvin Gaye Park in the 5200 block of Eads Street when they heard gunshots and the 12-year-old was shot in the back of his right leg.
Police said the family immediately went to their home located on the 5300 block of Dix Street Northeast, D.C. to contact authorities.
D.C. police officers were called to the home around 9:10 p.m. where they observed the boy to be conscious. He was then taken to Children's Hospital for treatment and is expected to make a recovery.
Authorities said the family did not see where the shots came from and police have no information on a possible suspect. According to the police report, the department's ShotSpotter recorded 18 rounds of gunfire.
D.C. police continue to investigate the incident and said Thursday afternoon that there will be increased patrols in the Marvin Gaye Park area.
Neighbor Juanda, who lives feet away from where the shooting happened and did not want to giver her last name, said she heard the shots ring out.
"I was scared," Juanda said. "It was really close. And then it just kept going. I was like okay, I hope nobody got hit."
This isn't the first time a kid has been shot in the area surrounding the park.
In September, two students and a man were shot near Marvin Gaye Park in the 5300 block of Dix Street Northeast, the same block where the 12-year-old and his family lives. Police said they were able to get suspect information in this case.
The area where the 12-year-old boy was shot is also just two blocks away from where 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson was shot back in July 2018. Gunmen shot and killed Wilson as she went to get ice cream in her Clay Terrace neighborhood.
According to data from DC police, in the quarter mile surrounding Wednesday's shooting, there have been 199 crimes reported to police since Wilson was shot and killed in the summer of 2018.
Of those 199 crimes, the data shows there were six murders, 18 assaults with a dangerous weapon excluding a gun, and 10 assaults with a gun.
Juanda said those numbers didn't surprise her, because violence happens so often.
"Every two to three days," Juanda said about hearing gunfire. "Unfortunately, it’s something people get used to."
Another neighbor Jamall, who also did not want to give his last name, said despite it being a common occurrence, it is nerve wracking that so many children have been shot.
"This is the street we travel with our kids every day," Jamall said. "It's nerve wracking."