TPD: 13-Year-Old Was On iPad In Bedroom When He Was Shot And Killed From Street

TUSCALOOSA, AL — There have yet to be any arrests announced in a Friday night shooting that left a 13-year-old boy dead in Washington Square off of Fosters Ferry Road.

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In the hours immediately following the shooting, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley fought through tears as he informed media of the few details available in the case, which is now being investigated by the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit as a homicide.

The child, who has not be identified by name publicly, was reportedly sitting in his room, playing on his iPad, when numerous shots were fired at the house. One of the bullets went through a bedroom window, hitting the child in the head and killing him.

"There were so many shell casings in the road, officers had to pull business cards from their wallets to fold and use as temporary evidence markers," TPD said in a Facebook post Saturday morning. "The parents and family of a 13-year-old boy had to stand across the street and watch paramedics drive the ambulance away after realizing there was nothing they could do."

Patch reported on the homicide investigation roughly an hour after the call of the shooting came in at approximately 6:20 p.m. Friday evening.

"It's a senseless murder," said TPD Chief Brent Blankley to local media Friday night. "We see it all the time where adults are shot and it's terrible, but when it's a kid it takes it to another level ... We're all Dads and Moms out here. When you see that and see the senseless tragedy of that, it hits you different."

Those with any information into this case are asked to call (205) 349-2121, (205) 464-8690 or report anonymously at (205) 752-STOP (7867).

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