COLUMBUS, Ohio — Neighbors who live near the apartment complex where a 2-year-old boy was shot this weekend are calling for change.
On Sunday night, the boy was injured in a drive-by shooting in the 4000 block of Carlton Avenue in southeast Columbus. He was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital in critical condition.
The Homicide Unit is investigating the shooting due to the severity of the boy's injuries.
Shawna Stewart lives in the same complex where the boy was shot.
“I’m sitting down watching a movie with my husband and I can hear fire shots going on. I said to my husband, ‘That’s not fireworks’,” Stewart said.
Sandy Kirkland lives right next door to where the shooting happened. She said her neighbors were having a party with kids playing outside and grilling.
“It was already looking dangerous as the day got by,” said Kirkland. “A lot of fighting, shouting,” she added.
Kirkland said when she heard the gunshots, she fell to the ground and stayed there until police arrived. She’s worried about her safety with the suspect on the loose.
“It’s very hard and difficult to see these babies out here. Own up parents and watch your babies,” said Kirkland. “My heart goes out to the family and all the people I know that love that child. I just pray that man that shot is caught,” she said.
Neighbors say hearing gunshots on Carlton Avenue isn’t uncommon. They're now calling for change in their neighborhood and across Columbus.
“Something has to stop with the gun violence. If I can say it to the camera, these politicians let gun violence continue and continue,” said Stewart.
10TV took Stewart’s concerns to State Representative Latyna Humphrey. She said gun violence is at the top of her mind.
“We introduced a bill with background checks. I introduced the repeal stand your ground law, bills for red flag laws,” Humphrey said.
But Humphrey said all of those bills have only had one hearing. She said she will keep fighting to get those bills re-introduced and is encouraging people who care about the issue of gun violence to vote.
“If we don’t have legislators that care about gun safety and violence prevention, then we will run into this cyclic cycle,” Humphrey said.