NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Exactly 48 hours after a bullet struck a 10-year-old boy in the head, friends and members of the community marched to cheer on his recovery and push for a safer neighborhood.
They couldn’t be missed coming out of the Auburn Pointe Apartments. More than 100 people strong, mostly children, carried green and blue balloons while shouting “Malachi” at the top of their lungs.
Members of the community say Malachi was the name of the 10-year-old boy who was shot Wednesday night at the apartments on Crescent Way.
He was attending a birthday party when he and a 42-year-old man were shot, according to Newport News Police. He was rushed to CHKD, and as of Friday night, remains there in critical yet stable condition.
“He’s an amazing kid,” said Betsy Lewis, a leader in Malachi’s Cub Scout Pack. “He’s an amazing kid, not a better kid, and he’s strong, and he’s a fighter.”
Lewis has set up a GoFundMe page to help his family with medical bills. In 2 days time his progress has been “amazing,” she told 10 On Your Side.
Yolanda Davis, who lives in the community with Malachi and his family, spoke with his mother at the hospital not long before the event.
“She told me he sat up today and was able to speak briefly about how to make a fire, like he learned in scouts!” Davis said. “A day earlier doctors weren’t sure if he would make it.”
At dusk, the group released balloons into the sky in honor of Malachi. Davis said it also serves as a message.
“We are not going to lay down.” David said. “We are not going just allow people to come up and shoot up our community and just hide.”
No arrests have yet to be made in the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887).
