ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A community is in mourning in Elizabeth City after neighbors say a 5-year-old boy was shot and killed in the 1400 block of River Road Lot 125 just before 5 p.m. Sunday evening.
Detectives with the Elizabeth City Police Department were going door to door Tuesday morning in the Hickory Village mobile home park.
"We got a knock on door, and they told us he was shot with a BB gun, so me and my wife go over and see it was a gunshot wound, so I told her, 'Apply pressure - 911 is on the way,'" said the neighbor.
"I am pretty sad; it is hard to get over. I have kids of my own, and I am not gonna be able to see their son anymore or have him gimme a high five at the door," said the neighbor. "It is hard seeing a child not breathing."
News 3 also listened to police radio sound from the incident, and the original report also said the child was shot with a BB gun. EMS also noted there were four gunshot wounds as they were giving the young boy CPR.
The neighbor ran to the rescue and told us it appeared the boy had been shot in the stomach with a real firearm.
In a press release, police confirmed that the child was shot in the abdomen.
As officers arrived on scene, EMS personnel were giving him first aid, and he was later taken to Senatra Albemarle Hospital. He later died from his injuries.
Police later recovered and seized a handgun from the area.
One neighbor also said he heard a "pop" about five minutes before he was alerted about the boy being shot.
He said he walked over and also saw a bullet hole through a glass door.
The neighbor added that the boy’s birthday is Thursday and that he loved penguins.
The community has set up a small memorial in front of the family's home.
"He was bright; he was very talkative. I'll miss seeing a smile on his face or watching him come outside to play with dogs. He was really full of joy," said the neighbor.
Elizabeth City Police are continuing to investigate this incident. If you know anything about this shooting, you are asked to call the police department at (252) 621-7109 or the Crime Line at (252) 333-5555.
