An 8-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot in the face, just days after his birthday.
Donald Maiden Jr. was playing tag outside of his apartment complex on Tuesday when 46-year-old Brian Cloninger – who had been seen waving a handgun at people prior to the shooting – opened fire on the child.
Police reports said that Cloninger was seen standing beside his pickup truck as the boy was bleeding, and a witness asked him if he shot the boy.
“Yes I shot that kid,” Cloninger reportedly said.
Donald’s mother, Latamarin Locklin, recalled what happened after she discovered her child had been shot.
“When he ran in I just screamed,” she said. “His mouth was just hanging off and it was just a big hole… I just threw him on the couch and laid him in my arms and put pressure on his mouth with the towel.”
Locklin couldn’t understand why anyone would shoot her child “out of the blue.”
Donald remains in critical condition and needs a breathing tube to assist him. He also has a plate in his jaw and is unable to speak. He’s expected to have more surgeries to treat his wounds.
As for the gunman, he was charged with injury to the child and his being held on a $2.2 million bond. There is no word on what his motive was.
Our prayers are with Donald at this time.
SOURCE: Raw Story
