Chicago 9-year-old boy shot in chest: 'Mommy, I'm shot'

A 9-year-old boy in Chicago was struck in the chest by a stray bullet Wednesday afternoon while riding in his mother's car. According to the Chicago Tribune, the unknown shooter was aiming at the boyfriend of the boy's mother, who was riding in the front passenger seat. No one else in the car was hurt.

[Ed. note: The video below has an autoplay option we cannot turn off. Pause to continue reading.]

Tykeece Hilliard reportedly cried, "Mommy, I'm shot!" from the back seat as blood poured from his chest. His mother rushed him to Comer Children's Hospital, a few blocks away, where he underwent surgery and is expected to recover.

The boy was among 11 people who were shot in Chicago within an eight-hour span on Wednesday. His mother told police she was driving on Chicago's South Side when she heard as many as five gunshots, then realized her child was hurt.

Police believe that someone on the street recognized the intended victim or the red Aveo he was riding in and opened fire. Other children were riding in the car, but the 9-year-old boy was the only person struck by bullets.

The boy's grandmother told WGN-TV, "It just hurts that my grandbaby is laying in the hospital. I'm just praying for the best, that my grandbaby pulls through this because it's killing me, it's hurting me."

A neighbor described Tykeece to the Tribune as being cheerful and respectful, and said that the boy lives with his mother and five other siblings, all under the age of 13. The family moved to the area about two years ago.

"He's a sweet little boy," said Dee Roseman, whose 11-year-old son plays regularly with Tykeece. She recalled that the injured boy said that he enjoys math and reading.

Watch video about this story, embedded below via The Chicago Tribune:

[image of Dee Roseman via screencap]