MI - Child shot at apartment complex in Burton

http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=598994

Police say it happened as a mom and her boyfriend got ready to pull out of their parking spot to take two children to a bus stop.

A blue SUV, possibly a Ford Expedition, pulled up next to their vehicle. There were two men inside. At least one of them started shooting.

I hope they catch these men!

I hope they catch them too, but around here...they probably won't. I hate to say it, but it's true.

So far, there has been no real hint of drug or gang activity on the part of the mother or her boyfriend, it appears it was truly random or mistaken identity.

The Burton boy remained in critical condition Thursday, said police, who appealed to the public to help them find the shooters.
The boy was shot while leaving in a minivan in the parking lot of King's Lane Apartments off Hemphill Road with his older sister, mother and her boyfriend around 6:30 a.m. The bullet went through his arm and into his chest.
Police say a blue SUV, possibly a Ford Expedition, pulled up alongside the minivan and fired several shots into the vehicle..
Burton Detective Tom Bade said the boy was in surgery again on Thursday. Other than the vehicle description, police have released no other suspect information.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/03/five_children_injured_perish_b.html

He was back in surgery today, doesn't sound good for the little guy. Although, chances are that he's at Hurley, they are a level one trauma center, and although they get bad press, we don't call them the Hurley Miracle Center for nothing.

The boy is 8 years old. He was in a minivan with his older sister, their mother and her boyfriend. They were on their way to school. The shooting happened in a parking lot and Kings Lane Apartments. An SUV just pulled up and started firing.

The mother and her boyfriend immediately took off, taking the boy to the hospital themselves. On their way, they saw a STAT EMS ambulance parked near Court and Ann Arbor in Flint and stopped for help.
~snip~
Police describe it today as a medium blue colored SUV. They believe two black men were inside. One of them was bald.
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=8045786

They've seen a lot, but not what they saw Wednesday morning. A minivan pulled up next to them at that red light. A woman inside was screaming her baby had been shot.

"We were at the intersection of Court and Ann Arbor," said STAT EMS paramedic Heidi Cunningham.

"At the red light," said STAT EMS EMT Chris Samon. "We usually get a phone call and we know what we're getting into."

In this case, there was no phone call and no frantic dialing of 911. It was just a mother trying to get her frightened and injured 8-year-old son the help he needed.
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=8047939
Full interview with the paramedics at link.

If anyone wonders why this case has grabbed me when so many similar did not, I can literally walk to the orner where they flagged down the ambulance in less than 3 minutes, starting at home.

This one is way too close for my comfort, and I hate that. I have been watching the news for updates, since this is more than just local for me. It's damn near personal.