Little boy dies after being shot in the heart by mistake, just days before his birthday

The alarming spike in gun violence continues this week across the country and people, residents, neighbors, officials are outraged as another young man, just 10-year-old, died after being shot in the heart for no apparent reason.

This incident happened in New York City and the victim was identified as 10-year-old J. Wallace. The suspect, 29-year-old J. Young, voluntarily turned himself in Tuesday night, on what would have been Justin’s birthday.

“Justin Wallace should have turned 11 today. He should have spent today celebrating with his friends and family,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter following the arrest of Young. “If you shoot and kill in New York City, you will be caught. You will be arrested. You will be held accountable.”

According to NY police, detectives worked around the clock “tirelessly seeking justice for an innocent 10-year-old boy.”

The shooter now faces charges of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, assault in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He was jailed without bail and will spend the next 25 years to life in prison.

“There isn’t a parent alive who doesn’t mourn this family’s loss, another tragic result from gun violence,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “The defendant allegedly fired repeatedly into an occupied house, is now in custody and faces justice in our Courts.”

New York City has seen 70% surge in shootings in the first five months of 2021 compared to same period last year. The statistics say at least 131 children aged 11 or less died from gun violence across the country and at least 320 have been injured.

According to police report, the shooting took place on Saturday around 10 p.m. at a house in the Far Rockaway section in the city’s Queens. The child was collateral damage as Young’s target was Wallace’s older relative who was exiting his house that night. Young fired at least eight bullets hitting Wallace’s relative five times in the back, head and neck and hitting Wallace once, in the heart.

Both victims were transferred to hospital for treatment where the boy died shortly after. His relative is still in critical condition. At least three people identified the suspect as the shooter.

Neighbors say the shooting might be result of a dispute, possibly over a parking.

Earlier this week, Mayor de Blasio visited Justin’s parents at their home and vowed that the “cowardly, horrible human being who fired gunshots just randomly into a home” will face justice.

“He will suffer the consequences of what he did,” de Blasio said.