“They Said He's Going to Be OK”: Condition of Boy Shot in Head Improves: Family

The youngster had been alert throughout the day, and had even asked why everyone was crying

The condition of an 8-year-boy who was hit in the head by a stray bullet Monday is improving according to family members.

The youngster had been alert throughout the day, and had even asked why everyone was crying, his aunt told NBC4.

And his grandfather Juan Bernal, who lives at the same home on the 1000 block of Wagner Street in the Del Rey area where the attack happened, confirmed the youngster was improving.

"He was in critical and now he's stable," Bernal said.

A fellow family member confirmed the boy's condition was continuing to improve.

"I know that at some point he did say something. They said he was going to be ok," his great-aunt Maria Weekes said 

The 8-year-old was left in critical condition Monday morning after a stray bullet struck him in the head as he was sleeping at his family's home.

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About 10 rounds were fired from inside the house just before midnight, and his father had tried to shield him from the gunfire, after the gunman entered the residence just before midnight Sunday and began arguing with family members, police said.

The father "went to his son's room, shielded his son, and unfortunately his son was struck by gunfire," Sgt. Frank Preciado, who described the injury as "heartbreaking."

It was unclear what the argument was over or if family members who were in the home knew the gunman, Preciado said. The suspect fled the home and has not been caught.

The boy's father told police the gunman had his face covered. Police said Monday night the gunman may have been wearing a skimask.

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