14-year-old boy may be paralyzed for life after being shot in case of ‘mistaken identity’

The family of a 14-year-old Wisconsin boy who was shot at least twice while on his way to his aunt’s house with his cousin is saying the juvenile wasn’t involved in any kind of trouble and believe the assailant(s) mistook him for someone else.

According to the Racine Journal Times, the near-fatal driveby shooting occurred in the wee hours of Sunday, May 16. The victim, identified as Drekarion “Bob” Williams, was riding a scooter while his cousin was on a bike when an SUV pulled up on them and an unidentified suspect opened fire. Drekarion was hit twice but his cousin managed to get out of harm’s way. The victim was transported to a hospital where he underwent surgery. Medics also told Drekarion’s parents he may not be able to walk again as a result of his injuries.

“They were literally riding a bike and a scooter … mistaken for somebody else,” Drekarion’s aunt, Jessica Williams, said.

The victim’s family also told the news outlet they think the shooting was a case of mistaken identity and it could have been gang-related. “He ain’t into that,” Drekarion’s father, Scott Williams, said in reference to his son not being involved in any gang-related activity. “A good kid, never been to trouble.”

“He just wants to be a kid,” Williams added.

Drekarion’s shooting adds up to three other fatal shootings in the city in the space of days. “We’ve had a couple shootings in the last 10 days,” Racine Alderman Maurice Horton told the Racine Journal Times. “This city has been a city of retaliation: ‘If something happens on my side of town then something is going to happen on your side of town.’ ”

Horton, who is an ex-convict, also said he thinks the gang-related violence the city is currently experiencing is “connected to a lot of other issues in the city”, adding: “We’ve been down this road before.”

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been set to help raise funds to support Drekarion’s recovery process and to also assist his parents. A $15,000 reward is also being offered for any information that would assist investigators with apprehending the suspect(s), CBS 58 reported.

And though doctors have said Drekarion may be permanently paralyzed, his family remains hopeful. “He’s got to struggle the rest of his life basically mentally, physically, emotionally, his and my whole family’s also…yeah, too hard to talk about it,” Williams told the news outlet. “He’s gonna be in a wheel chair for the rest of his life, I mean I hope not, doctors are wrong.”