The 8-year-old boy shot as he slept in his south Fulton County home will survive his injuries, police said Wednesday. But investigators have few clues in what appears to be a random, drive-by shooting.
Ahijah Geffard was in his upstairs bedroom when at least six shots were fired through a door in the Hassana Lane home shortly before midnight Tuesday, according to Sgt. Scott McBride with Fulton County police. One of those bullets hit Ahijah in the back, McBride said. No one else was injured.
Officers arrived at the home to find Ahijah in his mother’s arms, according to a police report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The child was alert and conscious, but bleeding from his nose and mouth, the report states. Ahijah was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital before being transferred Wednesday afternoon to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.
“He’s fine, stable and will make a recovery,” McBride said Wednesday afternoon.
McBride said investigators planned to remain in the Fairburn-area neighborhood throughout the evening Wednesday, canvassing the area in search of any potential witnesses.
“We’re looking into everything we can,” he said.
Several shell casings and bullets were recovered from the home early Tuesday. Investigators are hopeful someone may have seen a suspicious vehicle in the area at the time of the shootings, McBride said.
Ahijah’s grandmother, Pamela Phillips, told Channel 2 Action News she is hopeful investigators will find those responsible for the shooting. She also said she hopes the family will be able to move.
Anyone with information regarding the shootings is asked to contact Fulton County police or Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.
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