Toddler shot following possible domestic violence incident in South Phoenix: police

Police searching for suspects after toddler is shot in South Phoenix

Phoenix Police are searching for two suspects in what they're calling a "concerning" and "brazen" shooting that left a toddler hospitalized. FOX 10's Nicole Krasean learns more about the midday shooting. 

PHOENIX - A young child is hospitalized after police say they were shot outside of a South Phoenix townhome on Tuesday.

Timeline:

The shooting, which Phoenix Police are calling "concerning" and "brazen," happened in the home near 32nd Street and Broadway at around 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 6. 

"First I heard the shot— pow! I was like ‘Oh wow,'" the witness said, recalling the moment she heard the gunshot.

She told FOX 10 that the child was shot in the left side of his face, saying, "he was standing up and he was crying, but he wasn't really crying he was more like whining."

Child hospitalized after being shot in South Phoenix townhome: police

A child is expected to survive after police say they were shot in a townhome Tuesday.

Dig deeper:

Officers arrived to find a toddler with gunshot wounds, although they did not confirm the location of where they were shot. The child was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to be OK.

According to investigators, two suspects left before officers arrived and no gun was found. 

The witness also mentioned a white car leaving the scene, but she wasn’t sure if it was involved directly in the incident. 

What they're saying:

"It was a domestic violence relationship, but we're still trying to piece together where all of the players are involved, and how they're all involved in this situation," said Sgt. Jen Zak, a public information officer for the Phoenix Police Department. 

"God is good. God is good, yeah the baby was crying and all I could think of was why the ambulance ain’t coming but they held him but the baby was crying but he was okay," the witness said.

What you can do:

Police are asking for the community to help share any information that could lead to an arrest in this shooting.

"When our youth are affected, we want to solve this and we want to get the word out there that you will not get away with this," Sgt. Zak said. "We are aware that there is also video out there, so we want to encourage, if anybody has this video, please share it with police so we can piece together what happened out here today."

What's next:

This remains an ongoing investigation.

If you believe you are a victim of domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text START to 88788. A live online chat is also available.

Often it is difficult to know where to find help for Domestic Violence. Here you will find resources such as shelters, safety plans, and other information.

Arizona Department of Economic Security - Domestic Violence Services
City of Phoenix Domestic Violence Resources

National Domestic Violence Hotline

24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse: https://www.thehotline.org/ and phoenix.gov.

Domestic Violence Resources and Referrals

Map of the nearby area of the shooting.