Police seek suspects in shooting of child, 2

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A two-year-old boy is in the hospital recovering and his family in shock after he was shot inside his home in a drive-by shooting Saturday. 

According to Columbus police, the shooting happened on Ellsworth Avenue at approximately 10 p.m. 

Now, police are asking for the community’s help to find those responsible.  

Dajohn Kelly, the boy’s cousin, said his name is AJ. Kelley said AJ is strong and is going to be OK, but this family will deal with this trauma forever and they want justice.  

“My whole world stopped, it felt like,” Kelley said.  

Kelly said he wasn’t home on Saturday night and that while he was out, a text chain started that changed his life.  

“I look up to my phone, it's blowing up, and a whole bunch of messages are going through the group chat and things like that,” Kelley said. “’Uh, the baby got shot, the baby got shot.’" 

Columbus police said the boy was shot inside his own living room in a drive-by shooting. At this point, police said they did not know exactly what happened and had no suspects. 

Kelley said AJ’s mother and several other children were also inside the home at the time of the shooting.  

“It's scary because it's not that's not meant for them, you know,” Kelley said. “Like our family hasn't done anything wrong to anyone, and we always tried to keep it that way and for this to happen, I don't know if it was just the wrong address or anything like that, but yeah, it should have happened anyway." 

There are at least four bullet holes still in the house. Kelley said it was the bullet that went through the downstairs air conditioning unit that hit AJ. The child was taken to the hospital in critical condition but is now in stable condition.  

Columbus police said Saturday this is unacceptable.  

“I beg and plead whoever is involved in this to turn yourselves in,” Columbus Police Sgt. Joe Albert said. “This is absolutely ridiculous. We need anyone with information to call our felony assault unit.” 

Kelley said AJ’s mother is with him at the hospital and that while AJ is still in a little pain, he is going to be OK. 

“I just want to let them know whoever done it needs to come forward, because that's not fair for any of the kids that were here,” Kelley said. “They probably got nothing traumatized by it, so I'm just in disbelief right now, I ain't going to lie.” 

Columbus Police are asking anyone who might’ve seen or heard something about this case to come forward. They are asking for you to call Columbus Police felony assault unit Det. Justin Jones at 614-645-4373 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).