Two-year-old boy shot, injured while inside his home watching TV



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee police say a two-year-old boy was the victim of a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday night, April 9th near 4th and Keefe Ave.

Police say the boy was shot around 9:30 p.m. while inside his home watching television. A bullet went through the boy's back and out of his stomach. He was taken to the hospital with critical injuries -- but he is expected to survive.

Police say 12 shots were fired into the boy's home from an alley nearby.

Police believe this could be a case of misidentification.

Police say late last month, they arrested seven people inside the home with guns. Police say the new family living inside the home may have gotten bullets intended for someone else.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett hosted a news conference at the scene on Thursday afternoon. They say on Friday, they intend to ask Gov. Scott Walker to help make laws tougher -- to prevent felons from getting guns, and to prevent habitual criminals from being able to get a gun permit.

"In this state, no matter how many times you are illegally arrested carrying a firearm, it is a misdemeanor," Chief Flynn said on Thursday.

Annie Christian lives next door to the home where the boy was shot on Wednesday night. She has a two-year-old herself.

"It was out here in the front. My son upstairs told me they was shooting out the front," Christian said.

Christian says she remembers a time when neighbors went door-to-door to visit, instead of police officers going door-to-door looking for gunmen.

Police have no suspects in custody in connection with this shooting incident. 

Chief Flynn says homicides are down and gun seizures are up -- but he says there are still way too many criminals with guns -- something that will be brought up with Gov. Walker.