2 kids hit in shooting while at Burger King drive-thru in Durham, sheriff’s office says
Two children were shot while sitting in the back seat of a car at a Burger King drive-through, the Durham Sheriff’s Office reported Friday.
The incident happened at 7 p.m. Thursday on the 1600 block of U.S. 70, according to a release. The car was in the drive-thru when it was hit by a bullet, breaking a window. The two children who were hit are 2 and 11, according to Sheriff Clarence Birkhead.
The family took the children to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the Sheriff’s Office said.
No suspects were seen when officers arrived at the scene, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Sheriff’s Office said that the family is not believed to be the intended target of the shooting.
The Burger King is located at the intersection with South Miami Boulevard with other fast food restaurants on opposite corners.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Gould with CID at 919-560-0880 or communications at 919-560-0900 after business hours. They may also call Durham Crimestoppers.
Children and firearms
The rates of deadly firearm-related incidents among children in North Carolina have steadily been increasing, The News & Observer reported.
The N.C. Child Fatality Task Force, a legislative study group, reported that overall emergency room visits in 2020 for injured children fell 31% in the state — but children injured by gunfire increased 15% to 319.
Child firearm deaths rose from 56 to 105 last year, an 88% increase and the most since at least 1999, according to the N.C. State Center for Health Statistics. The previous record was in 2018, with 61 deaths — most of them boys 15 to 17 years old.
Of those 105 children killed, 66 died from assaults, up from 36 in 2019, according to the data. Deaths from self-inflicted firearms doubled to 31, according to other data from state health officials.
Staff writer Virginia Bridges contributed to this report.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts may be unclear and details may change as the story develops. Our reporters are working to get information as quickly and accurately as possible. This story may be updated as more information becomes available. Refresh this page for the most up-to-date report.
This story was originally published November 5, 2021 at 10:13 AM.