JSO: 22-month-old boy shot in a car on the Eastside

A 22-month-old boy was rushed to the hospital in extremely critical condition after being shot Friday night while inside a car on the Eastside.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Chief Tom Hackney said the drive-by shooting is gang-related. The child, identified by Hackney as Aiden Michael McClendon, was hit once in the shoulder and a couple of times in the stomach, Hackney said.

JSO has been working the shooting on Spearing Street since shortly after 6 p.m. Friday. The child was inside of the car with his mother and grandmother, Hackney said. 

The Sheriff's Office said there were several shots fired from a passing car. The car with the child, his mother and grandmother inside was in front of a home, which was also hit by bullets. The child was the only person hit by bullets in the shooting.

Hackney said it does not appear that the child, his mother or grandmother were the intended targets.

Detectives initially searched the area near Albert and Spearing streets to figure out if there were more people who were shot, but after determining the child was the only one hurt, police are now just looking for witnesses.

Officers could be seen speaking with several people at the crime scene Friday night.

Lt. George Grant said officers don’t know how many suspects were involved, but they reportedly fled the scene in a white vehicle that fled westbound on Albert Street.

"We just know of the white vehicle fleeing the area," Grant said. "We are trying to locate any witnesses right now, because we need to get these dirt bags off the street."

Hackney pleaded for tips from the public to find the suspect or suspects, and had a stern message for those suspects.

"You don't deserve to be walking on the streets we walk," Hackney said.

Cox Media Group