Boy shot in east Detroit; police chief happy with officers' quick response

11-year-old Detroit boy struck by gunfire intended for man; officers arrive on scene 4 minutes after 1st call was made

DETROIT – An 11-year-old boy was shot in the arm Tuesday while he was outside his neighbor's home on Detroit's east side.

The gunfire first hit the intended target -- a man in his 30s. The boy, Dovonta, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is hospitalized in stable condition.

"That was my son. Thank God ... that he's OK," said Leann Andrews.

Detroit's new police chief, James Craig, was on the street just moments after the shooting.

"The violence must stop. Violence of any kind is unacceptable. One shooting is one too many, but when it's involving a child, I need to send a message, not only to the community, to our officers, that we're not going to tolerate this," Craig said.

Chief Craig was pleased with the quick response. Police officers were at the shooting scene 4 minutes after the first call went out for help.

Police response times have been a well-known and well-documented problem for the Detroit Police Department.

"This is an example of what I've illustrated, that when a violent crime is in progress -- especially a shooting -- the officers are coming and they are going to get here quickly," Craig said.

Dovonta's mother was thankful police arrived quickly and hopeful something will be done to keep her son safe on the streets in the future.

"All these shootings and stuff like that, it's uncalled for," said Andrews.


About the Author:

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.