5th Child Shot In Detroit In Recent Weeks

DETROIT (WWJ) - A 12-year-old boy was shot after two cars crashed into a tree in front of his home, and several men got out of the cars and began shooting at each other.

It happened at around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on Montgomery Street on the city's west side.

Police said the victim was playing basketball when he was shot and was not a party to the accident. The bullet struck an artery.

The boy was taken to Children's Hospital for surgery where he was listed in serious condition.

This was the fifth child to be shot in Detroit in recent weeks.

On March 12, a 2-year-old boy was accidentally shot in the hip as two men argued outside a home on Gilchrist Street on the city's west side. He was listed in good condition at Children's Hospital on Wednesday as charges were expected in the case.

A 6-year-old boy was shot with an AK47 during an attempted carjacking on Feb 26. On Feb 20, a 9-month-old boy was killed in a hail of gunfire, reportedly in a  skirmish about seating at a baby shower. And a 12-year-old girl was shot and killed on Jan. 31 following a fight involving her mother over a mobile phone.

In last week's State of the City address, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing  spoke about new efforts to crack down on gun crime in the wake of these incidents involving kids.

"We can no longer tolerate this terrorism in our city," said Bing.  "Unfortunately, the sad but real fact is that when violence affects the innocent lives of our children and our seniors, it has gone too far. No Detroiter should have to live in fear. I'm outraged by the insidious violence in our neighborhoods and in our city, but Chief Godbee and the police cannot do it alone," Bing said.  (Read more here).

No arrests have been made in this latest case. Anyone with information regarding Tuesday's incident is asked to call Detroit Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP.