Teenager Paralyzed by Stray Bullet in Chicago Shooting
A 14-year-old boy was paralyzed from the chest down after being struck by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a man targeting a former teammate.
A 14-year-old boy in Chicago has been paralyzed from the chest down after being struck by a stray bullet, according to court records. Police described the boy as an innocent bystander who was hit while on a street in the West Ridge neighborhood.
The suspect, 19-year-old Muhammad Sayadul Boshar, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Prosecutors allege Boshar was shooting at a vehicle occupied by a former soccer teammate but missed, with a stray bullet hitting the teenager.
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon. According to court documents, Boshar had allegedly confronted the intended target earlier in the day near a mosque. The intended target told police that he and Boshar, with whom he had played soccer in the past, exchanged angry words and that Boshar brandished a handgun. The man stated he fled into a restaurant and later received threatening messages from Boshar on Facebook Messenger.
Later that day, the man was a passenger in a car with two friends, one of whom had his 3-year-old son present. When the car drove past Boshar's residence, Boshar allegedly produced a handgun and fired at the vehicle. The paralyzed teenager was approximately a block and a half away from the shooting location, unlocking a scooter when he was struck in the back by a bullet that lodged in his spine.
Prosecutors stated in the complaint that the boy is in stable but serious condition at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago. Witnesses told ABC Chicago station WLS that the boy was with classmates at the time of the shooting. One witness described seeing the boy's mother distraught upon arriving at the scene.
Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage that captured portions of the incident. Boshar was taken into custody after a brief manhunt. He made an initial court appearance on Monday, with his next court date scheduled for Friday. Boshar has not yet entered a plea to the charges, and it was unclear if he has an attorney. The Cook County State's Attorney's office filed the court documents reviewed by ABC News on Thursday.