A 10-year-old boy is back home and recovering after being struck by gunfire while sleeping in his bedroom in Dallas’ Red Bird neighborhood Monday night. Police are still searching for the shooter responsible for the senseless attack.
The shooting occurred in the 6800 block of South Cockrell Hill Road when multiple gunshots rang out as the child and a sibling slept. Investigators believe a vehicle traveling along Cockrell Hill Road opened fire in a drive-by shooting, sending at least two bullets through the boy’s bedroom window and striking him in the leg.
Dallas Police Crimes Against Persons Unit spokesperson Bobbie Epperson confirmed the child was not the intended target and neither was anyone else inside the home. “A 10-year-old child should be able to sleep at night without having to worry about getting shot” Epperson said adding that officers are committed to finding those responsible before anyone else gets hurt.
No arrests have been made and no suspects are currently in custody. Epperson said investigators are actively asking for the public’s help in identifying anyone connected to the shooting.
Detectives are also turning to Flock license plate-reading cameras stationed throughout the Red Bird area as a key investigative tool. Epperson noted that whenever a vehicle is involved in a crime the technology becomes especially valuable in generating leads.
Neighbor Sheena Payton said the incident rattled the community and expressed hope that the surveillance cameras would help bring answers. She described the situation as frightening while noting the cameras positioned nearby could prove critical to the investigation.
The Flock camera system has sparked ongoing debate across North Texas and nationally over privacy concerns and the potential for misuse but law enforcement continues to rely on the technology in cases like this one.
Dallas police are urging anyone with information about the shooting or the individuals involved to come forward immediately and contact investigators.