2 young people shot in drive-by at Durham apartment complex: Police

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Two children were shot Tuesday afternoon in a drive-by shooting at an apartment complex in Durham.

Durham Police Department said the two victims were a 16-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl.

Investigators said they believe the shots were fired from a passing vehicle just after 3 p.m., but no details about that vehicle have yet been released.

Crime scene tape surrounded Oxford Manor, a housing complex used by the Durham Housing Authority, as police investigated the shooting.

Police said both of the children shot were taken to the hospital and were expected to recover. DPD said the two victims are not related.

The mother of the 5-year-old spoke briefly with ABC11 and said her daughter was in good spirits while being treated at Duke Hospital.

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, who was in Washington with other officials on a trip to bring more resources back to Durham, said he stepped out of his meeting to get the call from a community member Tuesday that two "babies" had been shot.

"It hurt me to my heart," Williams said. "My heart always beats with the City of Durham."

He said affordable housing remains the No. 1 issue.

"We have to make housing a human right. I want to make sure we're working with the housing authority to do just that," Williams said.

The mayor used Tuesday's shooting as a chance to renew his stance on ShotSpotter -- wondering whether the technology would have made a difference in the double shooting.

"It's beyond horrifying. Horrifying is an understatement. These are our babies, these are our future," Williams said. "I won't be selfish in my own ideals, I won't be isolated in my own privilege. I want to be able to govern on behalf of the people for the future that is coming and that takes us being very selfless."

Police have not released a description of the suspects or the vehicle involved but there are surveillance cameras in the vicinity.

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