Boardman police investigate shooting that injured 12-year-old boy

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Township police are investigating a case of aggravated burglary and felonious assault after someone shot a 12-year-old boy in the leg during a break-in Monday night.

Officers responded to a home in the 4800 block of Erie Street about 10 p.m. Monday on a report of a shooting, according to a police report.

At the scene, police found blood on the kitchen floor and the victim lying on his back in the dining room with a tourniquet on his leg. The victim’s mother told police she heard a gunshot from upstairs, and then came down to see her son injured and a red car fleeing the scene.

The victim, who according to the report is a student at Glenwood Middle School, told police that he heard someone pounding on the back door of the residence and then saw a man, who he described as a black male with dread locks wearing all black clothing, at the door.

The victim told police that when he didn’t open the door because he didn’t know the man, the man brandished a gun and started pounding on the screen and door with the gun. The man then reportedly forced his way into the house.

When the victim ran from him into the dining room, the man reportedly fired at the victim once, hitting him in the right leg. He then fled through the back door.

The victim was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. Police said the victim’s injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

Police do not yet have a suspect, but say they are investigating several people of interest. They said it is not yet clear why the man broke into the home or whether it was a random act.