Daron Johnson
Lawrence, IN — Daron Johnson, a 14-year old boy who was shot in the head during a birthday party in Lawrence, Indiana, has died after being in critical condition in the hospital for a week. His family is devastated.
Officers from the Lawrence Police Dept. responded to a report of a shooting at the Lawrence Lion’s Club just after 10:30 pm on Saturday. Two individuals who attended a birthday party reportedly fought which turned into a fight between two groups in which several shots were fired.
Five children, all under the age 15, were shot. Four had non-life-threatening injuries but Daron was shot in the head which caused serious injuries.
On Tuesday, police said he wouldn’t be able to survive from his injuries. On Friday, he died at Riley Hospital for Children.
“I just remember me being with my son that day, early in the daytime and I didn’t know that I wasn’t going to see him,” said Daron’s mother, Cheree Sampson.
The police is still investigating the cause of the argument, but Daron’s family claimed he is not involved in it.
“He had nothing to do with either argument on either side,” Daron’s uncle said. “Wrong place, wrong time.”
The youngest victim was 11 years old. There were parents also in the party that was about to finish when shots fired around 10:30 pm.
“Where are kids getting guns? I have no idea. I know our kids don’t run around with guns at 14 and 15 years old and I don’t think nobody else’s kids should,” Sampson said.
A 14-year-old suspect was taken into custody in connection with the shooting but police are yet to find out if there are others who fired shots. The investigations regarding the shooting are still ongoing.