CANTON, Ohio — Canton Police are investigating after a 13-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound shortly after walking onto his front porch.
Investigators believe the shot came from a gun battle that happened a few city blocks away from the victim's home.
The shooting happened around 4:45 p.m. Thursday in the 2100 block of 4th Street NE.
According to a police report, the teen, Christian Webb, was found lying on his front porch, accompanied by his mother, when they arrived.
Police said the boy had a gunshot wound to his left arm below his shoulder and had to use a tourniquet. He was transported to the hospital, conscious and breathing.
"I heard like this big boom and I looked out and I noticed like my arm was stinging a little bit," the teen told News 5. "I looked down. I noticed I was bleeding."
Witnesses told police they heard multiple gunshots but did not see where they came from.
The teen's mother, Tyara Webb, said the shooting happened as she was getting ready to take Christian to a viola lesson. She ducked down on the porch and told her son to stay down until paramedics and police arrived.
"I feel devastated. I feel scared. I feel rage because my son was minding his owns business," she said. "It's just insane to me that you're minding your business, you're walking outside getting ready to go somewhere, and you end up with a piece of metal in your arm."
According to the police report, witnesses said the gunshots sounded like they came from the area of Gobel Avenue NE.
The police report indicates a group of people fled in a red Chevy Impala and another group fled in a white Kia K5.
Police believe the group involved in the shooting was a younger group of boys or men.
Multiple gunshot casings were found on the ground.
Doctors determined it was safer to leave the bullet in Christian's arm rather than perform surgery.
Tyara Webb believes, emotionally, that the stray bullet has changed the trajectory of her son's life. She hopes Christian can continue to do what he loves.
"He plays the violo You have to hold the violo with the left hand. Is he gonna be able to do that? He plays basketball. Is he gonna be able to do that?" she said. "I do hope whoever did this does the right thing and they turn themselves in."
