Philadelphia/ Crime & Emergencies
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Published on May 27, 2024
Two Suspects Charged After Stray Bullet Injures Child in Atlantic City ShootingSource: Unsplash/ Scott Rodgerson

An Atlantic City boy's weekend took a harrowing turn when he was shot inside his home during a violent altercation on the streets outside, authorities say. The shooting occurred on the 100 block of North Rhode Island Avenue just before the clock struck 10:30 p.m., according to NBC Philadelphia. Responding officers found the 11-year-old with a gunshot wound, which was deemed non-life-threatening after he received medical attention.

Investigations carried out by Atlantic City Police's Violent Crimes Unit led to the arrest of Yanirah Davis, 22, and Yontay Cooper, 33. The pair allegedly showed up at the locale, both armed with a handgun and a hammer, in seek of a confrontation with individuals they had previously clashed with, as per the police report. In an episode of retribution-turned-awry, the violence inexplicably reached into the innocent child's home, leaving the community to question the sanctity of their own dwellings.

Further details of the incident relay that Davis and Cooper were accused of initiating their attack by using the hammer to smash a vehicle's window and subsequently opening fire towards a group of people. One of the bullets tragically missed its intended mark, traveling through the wall of a residence and striking the child, officials explained.

Both suspects were apprehended and charged with ten counts of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering the welfare of a child, and conspiracy, as reported by 6abc. In a neighborhood marred by sporadic outbursts of violence, the young victim's encounter served as a grim reminder of the stray bullets' indiscriminate nature and their power to shatter the calm of a typical residential street in an instant.