Robesonian

Separate shootings injure 2 children

LUMBERTON — Two children are recovering from gunshot wounds suffered in separate incidents.

The Lumberton Police Department responded Friday about 2:53 p.m. to a call about a 2-year-old boy who arrived at an undisclosed hospital, Capt. Brian Duckworth, of the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, said Monday. The case was handed over to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s detectives identified Ahmad Smith as the person who dropped the child off at the hospital, Duckworth said. Smith was stopped later by Lumberton police officers not far from the hospital.

Smith’s relationship to the child is being withheld to protect the child’s identity, Duckworth said.

Detectives went to a home at 67 Panther Drive in Lumberton, where the shooting happened, Duckworth said. It was determined that a firearm handled by Smith accidentally discharged and struck the boy.

Smith took the child Southeastern Regional Medical Center, and the child later was transferred to an undisclosed hospital for surgery. The extent of the child’s injuries was not known as of Monday afternoon.

“Thanks to the Lumberton Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office for the quick response with this case,” Duckworth said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Sgt. Detective Kevin Hickman at 910-671-3140.

In a unrelated incident, a 12-year-old girl was hit Thursday about 11:40 a.m. by a bullet that passed through a bedroom window of a home at 163 Camala Drive in Lumberton, Duckworth said. The home, which was occupied by several adults and children, was struck by bullets from two types of weapons.

The juvenile was treated at Southeastern Regional Medical Center and then transferred to an undisclosed hospital for further treatment, Duckworth said. Her condition was not available.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Sgt. Detective Alex Monroe at 910-671-3140

By Annick Joseph

Staff writer

Reach Annick Joseph by calling 910-416-5165 or via email at ajoseph@robesonian.com or Facebook Annick MultiMedia Journalist.