8-year-old boy injured by gunman

Tim Sheehan:

An 8-year-old boy is recovering after he was shot and wounded as he and other children played with Christmas presents Sunday evening.

The child, whose name was not made public by police, was with relatives in front of a home in the 900 block of West Garrett Avenue, in a quiet north Farmersville neighborhood, when two young men walked along the street where the children were playing.

Police said one of the men pulled out a shotgun and fired at the youngsters, striking the 8-year-old, before running away.

A man living at the home where the shooting happened near the corner of Garrett and Virginia avenues said the wounded youngster didn't live there, but was visiting relatives on Christmas.

The homeowner, who would not give his name or the name of the child, said the gunshot hit the boy in the calf. The child was taken to Children's Hospital Central California in Madera County, where he was reported to be in fair condition Monday afternoon.

Farmersville police said the assailants were walking west on Garrett, which dead-ends at a fence separating the neighborhood from farmland just west of the crime scene. After firing the shotgun, the two ran west on Garrett.

Police are seeking information that may lead to an arrest in the shooting, which is being investigated as an attempted murder.

Investigators said both of the suspects were described as Hispanic men in their 20s. One was wearing a gray and red sweat shirt with blue jeans and had a shaved head.

Police have recovered no weapon and have no suspects in custody.

8-Year-Old Shooting Victim Recovering