KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Prosecutors filed assault and armed criminal action charges against a juvenile related to the shooting of a two-year-old child on Nov. 9. The juvenile, a 14-year-old boy, has been detained in secure detention at the Jackson County Detention Center.
The 14-year-old boy was arrested early Tuesday afternoon. Police have not released the name or any other information about the suspect, citing the suspect’s age.
Last Friday morning, two-year-old Axel Orozco was injured by a single gunshot wound while he was watching television in his family’s living room in the 1600 block of Topping. The shooter – believed to be on the street in front of the house – rattled off multiple shots at the home, one of which struck the boy in the back.
On Monday, Orozco’s family told FOX 4 News that doctors had to remove the child’s spleen, but that he is otherwise recovering quickly.
“He’s such a goofy little kid. He’s always playing around, dancing. He loves to dance,” said his aunt, Brenda Orozco, on Monday. “He’s a strong boy.”
On Tuesday, the boy’s mother – Anna Orozco – told FOX 4 that her family is looking for a new home because they still don’t feel safe.
“It’s the worst thing ever, looking at your kid asking for water. Water. And you cant give him anything,” said Anna Orozco, who says that she is desperately looking for a new home. “The main thing in my life is take care of my babies.”
The family says that this was the second shooting aimed at their home since August. They say that they’re afraid of what will happen next.
“It is very overwhelming to be here and know that it could happen again,” said Brenda Orozco. She says that the family are being targeted by gangs for so-called snitching, and the family says that want the retaliation to stop.
The family says that another 14-year-old boy, also unidentified, was already in jail in connection to the August shooting.
“I’m really hoping that they come to their sense and come forward. You know, if they were so brave to do it, well I mean, I hope they are brave enough to assume the consequences now,” said Brenda Orozco.
Missouri law requires that the Family Court hold a hearing to determine whether the juvenile should be transferred to the adult criminal system. The pre-trial hearing will be on November 28