Mother, teenage son shot in pre-dawn attack in Ellenwood neighborhood
13-year-old game designer shot in face, leg
Trilina Reaves came home to a nightmare in Ellenwood. She believes three people opened fire on her home, grazing her mom's head with a bullet, and shooting her 13-year-old brother in the face and leg. The boy was rushed into surgery and now reportedly relies on a feeding tube.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A mother and 13-year-old boy were shot early Monday morning in the 3400 block of Flint Avenue, near River Road and Clevemont Road in Ellenwood, according to the DeKalb County Police Department.
Officers responded to a call about a person being shot at approximately 1:40 a.m. Upon arrival, they found two individuals with gunshot wounds. A woman was grazed by a bullet, while a young teenager was struck, police said.
The teen was transported to a nearby hospital and was reported to be in stable condition at the time of transport. The investigation is ongoing, and DCPD has not provided any further information on the victims or potential suspects.
Trilina Reaves, the sister of the juvenile victim, described the chaotic and terrifying scene. "I was petrified," Reaves said. She recounted how the shooting broke out along Flint Avenue. "It was three people who were shooting and two cars. It was so many shots, I couldn’t count," Reaves said.
Reaves said that a bullet grazed her mother’s head, and her 13-year-old brother was hit in the face and leg. "I’m still trying to process that it happened. I can’t believe it for the most part," she said. Reaves was not at home at the time of the shooting but feared the worst. "I thought my mom was dead and I thought my brother died too," she added.
Reaves described her brother as a talented game designer and math prodigy, was severely wounded and underwent surgery. "He’ll have to eat food through a tube for a couple of months," Reaves said. The boy, who is just entering his teenage years, will now have to adjust to a new reality. "They’ll have to teach him how to swallow again," Reaves explained.
The family believes they know the identity of the shooters but are unsure of the motive behind the attack. DeKalb County police have not yet responded to requests for additional details about the shooting, and no arrests have been announced.