10-year-old girl seriously injured in Goldsboro shooting: 'My baby's been shot'

GOLDSBORO, N.C. (WTVD) -- A child in Goldsboro is in serious condition after being shot.

Early Tuesday morning, Goldsboro police say they were sent to Astor Court in reference to a ShotSpotter alert for shots fired.

When officers arrived they found the 10-year-old girl inside a home with a gunshot wound to the leg. The girl was taken to UNC Wayne Health before being taken to ECU Health for medical treatment.

"When I heard (gunfire), I just kneeled down, got the kids, and we all knelt down. I just grabbed them out the bed and we knelt to the floor. And then in the next five to 10 minutes, she called my phone and she said, "my baby's been shot," said Barbara Benton, a neighbor and close family friend of the victim.

Off-camera, the victim's mother tells ABC 11 she remains hospitalized, though is recovering. The victim was lying on a mattress when she was struck by a bullet.

"Goldsboro really needs to tighten up. This is supposed to be a community. Not everybody at each other's throats" said another family friend.

There were 10 bullet holes on the exterior of the home, visible in both the front and back of the residence. Benton urged city leaders to act, hoping to see a more consistent police presence in the neighborhood. She shared that recently, a bullet flew through her son's bedroom.

"We're in fear like we can't even sit out here on our front porch because we're fear of who's going to come through here shooting because they don't care whether it's daylight or nighttime," said Benton.

Goldsboro Police said there is nothing to indicate that the shooting was targeted and added no arrests have been made. The department declined to answer additional questions, citing the ongoing investigation.

The Goldsboro Police Department is asking anyone with any information about the shooting to call 919-705-6572 or Crimestoppers at 919-735-2255.

Goldsboro has had several shootings in 2023 involving juveniles; here are some previous stories reported by ABC11.

17-year-old shot and killed in Goldsboro

8-year-old child shot in the leg in Goldsboro: Police

15-year-old girl killed, 5 others injured in shooting at Goldsboro spring break party

7-year-old-injured in accidental shooting in Goldsboro expected to recover

14-year-old shot and killed in Goldsboro, police investigating