WINSTON SALEM, NC. (THECOUNT) — Oscar Mendez-Rodriguez, 17, and two other teens, 14 and 15, were arrested in the shooting death of a 5-year-old Winston-Salem boy on Saturday.
Winston-Salem Police say, the three teen were arrested Saturday in connection with the fatal shooting of the boy on Cole Ridge Circle, in Winston-Salem on Saturday evening.
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At approximately 5:20 p.m. on Saturday police responded to 2941 Cole Ridge Cr. Apt E, on reports of shots fired involving a 5-year-old victim.
Upon arrival, officers found the child suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
Investigators were able to locate the suspect vehicle and subsequently arrested three teenagers, and identified only Mendez-Rodriguez.
Authorities with EMS arrived, began life-saving procedures, and took the child to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center by ambulance. Medical staff at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center performed emergency surgery; however, the child passed away around 8 p.m., reports MyFox8.
Investigators learned from witnesses that a silver passenger vehicle occupied by several males drove through the area and began randomly firing handguns from the vehicle. Witnesses described multiple rounds being fired and investigators located several fired shell casings in the area.
Witnesses told police the teens fired into an apartment occupied by the victim, his mother, his father and a 3-year-old sister.
Police said there is no evidence to indicate that this family was intentionally targeted and deemed the shooting “random.”
Fired rounds struck two other apartments and an unoccupied vehicle.
No one else was injured in the incident.
A .38-caliber handgun was seized at this scene.
All three teens were booked into jail under a no bond order.
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Geo quick facts: Winston-Salem is a city in and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. With a 2019 estimated population of 255,969 it is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the fifth most populous city in North Carolina, and the eighty-ninth most populous city in the United States – Wikipedia.