8-year-old gun violence victim speaks up

MUNCIE — Tyler Gordon doesn't remember much about the day he was shot. And what the 8-year-old does remember, he doesn't really like to talk about.

It's been less than a year since Tyler was playing near Heekin Park with his brother, Frank London, and sister, Tyliyah White. They often played outside with their friends, who lived nearby the park, shooting Nerf guns.

At first they didn't know what happened. They thought they were hearing fireworks. Tyler ran and ducked behind some bushes, but something hit his hand and abdomen, leaving a small wound on his finger that started bleeding. He and Tyliyah figured he had been shot with a BB gun.

Tyler went back to playing but their friend's father called them into the house. That's when he started to feel sick, and when Tyliyah, who was 11 at the time, remembers watching her little brother throw up "blood and white stuff." She called home and their mother came to get them.

Their mom wasn't sure what was wrong, but by the time she got Tyler home, he passed out. Bridgett Ingram, the children's grandmother, said she immediately knew what paramedics later confirmed: 7-year-old Tyler had a bullet in his stomach.

What the children thought were BB pellets or fireworks had actually been bullets. It was the first time any of them had seen or heard a gun.

7-year-old boy struck by stray bullet near Heekin Park

The wound wasn't openly bleeding, but there was internal damage. Tyler had emergency surgery at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital before being airlifted to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis for another.

Surgeons had to help repair his insides, Ingram said, but the bullet stayed inside him. She used to be able to see it sticking out when he bent over. Eventually, he may need another surgery to remove it.

Tyler has a long, dark scar running down his stomach.

Tyliyah and Frank weren't able to go to Riley, so they were back at Sutton Elementary School on Monday.

"We cried Monday at school," Tyliyah said. "We worried about him."

Recovering was difficult, both for Tyler and his entire family. For a while he woke up with nightmares, but Ingram said he sleeps through the night now. The fourth of July was especially bad. Just a few months after he was shot, Tyler would come running inside, having confused fireworks for gunshots.

"To me he was too young," Ingram said. "He shouldn't have to deal with this."

Ingram doesn't let them go to the park anymore, although all three kids said they wouldn't want to anyway. Tyler usually stays inside with her when he's not at Sutton or the Unity Center.

"Nothing's going to happen to them on my watch," Ingram said.

Two teenagers were arrested following the shooting that hurt Tyler. D'ante Napoleon Davis, now 17, and Treyvon Bennett, 20, are charged with two counts each of attempted murder and aggravated battery.

Authorities allege they fired gunshots near Eighth and Grant streets last May 6. Another 17-year-old, who was a reported target of the gunfire, was also struck.

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Bennett's trial is set for May 9 and Davis' trial is set for May 27.

But to the Unity Center, those arrests aren't enough. The center received $5,000 from Champions for a Safe Community and have started a year-long effort to reduce gun violence.

The goal is to establish the center as a safe place for children or adults to report any gun activity, and teach children that reporting isn't "snitching."

Mayor Dennis Tyler and city prosecutor Jeff Arnold both said they are on board to help. When asked if Muncie needs an initiative like this, Arnold said: "Well, look at what happened this weekend.... I think actions indicated that yes, it is very much needed."

Early Sunday Rafael Angel Rodriguez, 24, was gunned down in his apartment, in the 5200 block of West Canterbury Drive. Shot in the chest, he died about two hours later at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.

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The project is still in the planning phases, but down the road the center hopes to have a no-questions-asked gun drop-off and bring in experts to speak.

Tom Stucky from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis will speak at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 13 at the center. He said the first step to reducing gun violence is to understand the circumstances under which it happens, which he will talk about.

"We have to think about, particularly if we are talking about juveniles, let's think about situations where they feel like it’s necessary to carry a gun," Stucky said. "The underlying problem is not the firearm, it’s that they feel like they need this."

After he talks it's up to the Unity Center to determine Muncie's circumstances, and decide what to do about it.

Tyler and his grandmother jumped on board with the center as spokespeople, sharing their families stories. Soon Tyler's picture will be on billboards around the city.

"I hope it's working," Ingram said. "(Children) can't go out and play and enjoy themselves."

Contact families & education reporter Emma Kate Fittes at 765-213-5845 and follow @EmmaKate_TSP

If you want to go...

What: Tom Stucky, from IUPUI, will speak about circumstances that lead to gun violence

When: 5 p.m. April 13

Where: The Unity Center, 515 E 9th St.