The Erie County Sheriff's Office is looking for help to identify how a child was shot in the Town of Collins. They say it happened shortly after midnight. Deputies were called out to a home on Route 39 (Main Street) for shots fired.
A 7-year-old boy had been sleeping in his bedroom inside the home, when it appeared the bullet came from outside and went through a wall of the home.
"Complainant told dispatchers that several gunshots were heard and they had observed two bullet holes into the home," said Chief of Patrol and Investigative Services Scott Joslyn. "It was soon after that discovered that a seven-year-old male who was asleep at the time in his bedroom, on his bed was struck by a round which entered the home and grazed him in the rear, upper thigh area."
EMS provided aid at the scene and transported the boy to Oishei Children’s Hospital by ambulance for further treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies said the child was in stable condition.
"We don't believe it to be a random act. We don't believe it to be a hunting accident," said Capt. James Welch. "It appears that it was a targeted action, but we don't know who the intended target was."
This remains an active investigation. A key question is what kind of a weapon and from how far away it was fired. Joslyn said the family in the home has never had a police problem.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 858-2903. Crime Stoppers is also offering a $2,500.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect or suspects. They can be contacted at 867-6161.
(The original story was updated after the ECSO released more information Tuesday afternoon.)
