DRIVE-BY Young boy 'lucky' in shooting

Shotgun pellets passed through the legs of Alfonso Flores, who is recovering at a local hospital.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The intended victim in a drive-by shooting that injured a 5-year-old boy is out on bond on a federal gun charge, and his companion is on probation on a stolen-car conviction.
Alfonso Flores was shot in both legs Tuesday afternoon as he played outside 573 E. Judson Ave. The child is recovering at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Detective Sgt. Gerry Maietta said Wednesday that Alfonso was lucky the shotgun pellets passed through his legs.
The detective said he's following up on a few leads but it's slow going.
"I have 20 witnesses who didn't see anything," Maietta said. "It's the 'Youngstown trauma' -- makes everyone blind."
Targets
Willie Oliver III, 19, said he likely was the intended target because he has enemies, especially a "dude named Paul." Oliver didn't discount the idea that those doing the shooting might have been gunning for his friend, Mike Childs, 20.
Both young men were in the East Judson Avenue driveway where Alfonso was playing when shots were fired from two passing vehicles. Police said a shotgun and a 9mm handgun were used.
Both Oliver and Childs have had run-ins with the law in the past, records show.
On March 2, a federal grand jury indicted Oliver of East Judson Avenue and charged him with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He has been free on $10,000 unsecured bond since March 11. Trial is set for May 16 in Cleveland.
Oliver was arrested Feb. 4 on a gun charge during a traffic stop on Hillman Street that resulted from having only one operating headlight and expired plates on his 1991 Chevy Caprice. The car was in bad shape with a bent driver's door that wouldn't open all the way, a broken rear passenger window and a trunk that wouldn't open.
The car is in worse shape now with a bullet crease across the hood, a bullet hole in the left rear door, shotgun pellet scrapes on the hood and fender and a flat tire. It took the hits during Tuesday's drive-by.
Other charges
In February, Oliver was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, driving under suspension (failure to have insurance), possession of marijuana, a headlight violation and expired plates.
Patrolman Frank Rutherford said he found a 9mm handgun rolled up in a black shirt on the floorboard and a magazine with 30 rounds of ammo near the drive shaft. The gun's serial number had been obliterated.
Rutherford's report said that Oliver stated he had the gun because "Paul" was after him. "Paul" believes Oliver snitched on him about shooting someone.
Oliver's traffic-gun case in municipal court resulted in the gun charge being sent off for federal prosecution. He received a $50 fine and six months probation on the driving under suspension charge, which was amended to no operator's license. The marijuana charge was dismissed, records show.
Also in February, Oliver was fined $50 in a separate case of drug-abuse involving marijuana.
In January, Childs, of Austintown, was sentenced in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to two years' probation for receiving stolen property and failure to comply with a police order. Judge Jack Durkin imposed 18 months in prison and suspended it in lieu of probation.
Childs was arrested on Belmont Avenue in July 2004 when police recognized the car he was driving as stolen. At the time, he was also wanted on a warrant that had been issued by juvenile court. That charge wasn't immediately available.