'You're not that tough:' Police search for suspects in shooting of child

BOSTON — A child was shot Sunday night and rushed to Boston Medical Center, according to Boston police.

The shooting happened on Copeland Street in Roxbury around 9:30 p.m. Police said the 5-year-old boy had been leaving a house with his father when he was shot. The suspects remain at large.

The boy suffered non-life threatening injuries. Commissioner William Evans said the father appeared to be the target of the shooting.

"If people aren't outraged by this, I don't know what gets you upset," Commissioner Evans said. "We need to step up. We have way too many shootings and people who know who did it."

Witnesses in the area said they heard several shots. Police are still looking for suspects in the case.

"Anytime you have a child that is shot, it's something that bothers the whole city," Mayor Marty Walsh said. "This is just a cowardly act....you missed your target. You hit a 5-year-old boy, you're not that tough."

Investigators said they are hoping for cooperation from the community.

"This should not be tolerated," Superintendent-in-Chief Chief William Gross said late Sunday night.

This is the third time a child has been shot in Roxbury. On Oct. 11, a 9-year-old girl was shot - she survived but is paralyzed. Just one week later a 2-year-old was shot, another instance where the child's father was the target.

Police said all three child shootings were unintentional.

Cox Media Group