Teen Charged With Shooting Boy

Boy, 10, was caught in gang crossfire Tuesday night, police say

A South Side teen has been charged with in connection with the shooting of a 10-year-old boy earlier this week.

Lejuan Young, 18, of the 7700 block of South Peoria Street, was charged with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, police said.

Young is accused of shooting a 10-year-old boy who was playing in the 900 block of West 77th Street, in the Gresham neighborhhood, on Tuesday night.

The boy was playing in the street when a man on a bicycle shot him once in the upper left thigh, police News Affairs Officer Ronald Gaines said. He was taken in good condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

The boy is not believed to be the intended target, and apparently got caught in crossfire, Gaines said.

A gun was recovered from the scene, Gaines said.

Young was called "a person of interest" immediately after the shooting, and police began questioning him late Tuesday, police said.

Calumet Area detectives are investigating.

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