DETROIT (WWJ) - Police believe an early morning shootout is behind the non-fatal shooting of a young child who was struck by a bullet as he slept in his Detroit home on Friday.
WWJ's Charlie Langton reported live from the scene at Brewster Townhouses near I-75 and Mack, where Detroit police are continuing to investigate the shooting which occurred around 4 a.m.
Commander Melissa Gardner said investigators believe the incident began when two groups of people began open firing at one another.
"What we have is two vehicles, possibly shooting at each other. Unfortunately, one bullet traveled through an apartment striking an 8-year-old young male and he's currently at Children's Hospital," Gardner explained in an update.
Langton said the boy sustained a fracture from the bullet to his upper left arm. He is listed in stable condition.
Evidence technicians are currently on scene, Langton reported, and they appear to be gathering the rifle shell casings, "about 10 to 15 of them."
At this time, there are no suspects in custody.
While the community is close-knit and welcoming, police told Langton the area where Brewster Townhouses is located is well-known to them.
"I am told that there is a lot of crime in this particular area," Langton said. "Younger people here and although people know each other, it is an area for crime and that's why the police are taking interest here again."
Police are continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone with any information has been asked to call the Detroit Police Department at (313) 596-5200 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP (773-2587).
Friday's incident is the latest in a string of violent crimes against children in the city. Last month, an infant was shot in the face by 6-year-old family member who found a handgun that was not properly stored in their Detroit home.
On Wednesday, the body of a 2-year-old child was discovered in an overgrown area on the city's eastside. Federal, state and local authorities spent three days desperately searching for the child who went missing late Sunday night when she was allegedly kidnapped by her mother's ex-boyfriend.
At this time, it remains unclear how the girl was killed.
"I think that we need to look out for each other more," neighbor Demetrius Anderson, who lives near the overgrown field where the girl's body was found, told Langton. "We have to catch the signs of people who are afflicting these harms on us. I mean, the signs are there. We just need to look at it."
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ LIVE for the latest updates.