Reverend: It's a miracle choir boy survived Roxbury shooting

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) – Leaders of a Boston church say a 13-year-old boy who was shot in the stomach while walking to church choir practice is expected to recover.

The boy, who the Boston TenPoint Coalition identifies as 13-year-old Gabriel Clarke, was shot in the area of Homestead Street and Humboldt Avenue by a passing car at about 7:10 p.m. Friday.

When officers arrived, they found Gabriel laying in the street with a gunshot wound. Police said he was heading to choir practice at a nearby church. A FOX 25 photographer at the scene said officers from the Boston Police gang unit were going door-to-door in the neighborhood looking for information.

Rev. Jeffrey Brown of the TenPoint Coalition announced in a statement on Saturday morning that Gabriel made it successfully through surgery and is expected to recover. Boston Police say Gabriel's status was updated to critical, but stable condition at Boston Medical Center.

The Rev. Nigel David said it's nothing short of a miracle that Gabriel survived. David visited the eighth grader at the hospital on Saturday.

"We sat, we spoke, he recognized me, so that's a good thing. I made him laugh, he said don't do that 'cause it hurts. But he's in good spirits, and he's in recovery," David said.

Religious leaders have planned a prayer meeting to show support for Gabriel and his family. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16 at the Berea Seventh Day Adventist Church.

No arrests have been made in Gabriel's shooting. Police said they believe the shooter may have been in a gray car . Anyone with information is asked to call Boston Police.

Gabriel was shot at the same intersection where 12-year-old Tiffany Moore was shot and killed in 1988.

Local residents are calling for an end to gun violence in the neighborhood.

Cox Media Group