COVINGTON, Tenn. — A 2-year-old boy is recovering at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital after being shot in the arm during a drive-by shooting in Covington Sunday morning.
It happened around 1 a.m. at a home on the 1200 block of College Street.
Family members say three other children were able to duck for cover, but the 2-year-old was hit and suffered a broken arm.
The bullets also struck one of the family’s vehicles, and Catherine Kercher counted about 11 bullet holes in the side of her home next door.
“I was in disbelief. I was like, ‘What? They did what?’ I said, ‘Where?’” Kercher said.
Kercher counts herself lucky that none of the bullets went inside her home, but said her heart goes out to the family of the injured boy.
“I know how it is to lose children, and I don’t wish that on anybody, so I was worried, devastated and thinking, ‘Oh Lord, a mother has to go through it again,” she said.
Danny Cannady said he hit the ground as soon as he heard the gunshots.
“I just was hoping I didn’t get hit by anything. I’m like, I know these are not fireworks.”
Police haven’t said how many shots were fired, but the victim’s aunt estimated there were 100 gunshots.
Kercher, who just moved to the neighborhood a month ago, said the area is normally quiet. Neighbors agree.
“I have never seen or heard anything like that happen. Like, this is the first time,” Cannady said.
Covington Police Chief Buddy Lewis said he would release additional information when he was able to. He didn’t respond to an email asking if police had any suspects or if the shooting was believed to be random.
