A nine-year-old child in Peoria is in stable condition after being shot in the chest during an attempted car burglary. The incident, which has shaken the local community, occurred Sunday evening near the 1200 block of Southwest Phoenix Drive. According to Central Illinois Proud, police found the boy suffering from a gunshot wound and quickly rushed him to the hospital.

In less than two days, Peoria police managed to certainly arrest a 15-year-old boy in connection with the shooting. Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria expressed frustration over the youth's extensive arrest record. "This is the file, right here, for a 15-year-old juvenile who is out in our streets not only victimizing people and burglarizing them but then has the audacity to pull a gun out and shoot and hit an innocent 9-year-old boy who was just trying to have dinner inside his home," Echevarria told 25 News Now.

The chief's displayed file purportedly documents over 20 arrests of the same teen within the last five years for crimes including weapon offenses and armed robbery. The teen is now being held at the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center, facing charges of aggravated battery and attempted motor vehicle theft, as detailed by Central Illinois Proud.

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali spoke to the necessity of a more holistic approach to addressing juvenile crime. "It’s going to take our schools working with our not-for-profit agencies. It’s going to take our religious institutions and families getting nosy into the lives of their children," Mayor Ali said, as stated by Central Illinois Proud. She advocated for a combined effort that also includes getting "nosey into our children’s lives" to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The young victim's prognosis is thankfully optimistic, as he recovers without major arterial damage, an outcome that authorities are thankful for in light of the circumstances. The investigation continues as authorities are on the lookout for a second suspect involved in the crime, as per 25 News Now.