Six Year Old Shooting Victim Recovering

By Jessica Taloney Reporter

A six year old is recovering after being shot three times with an AK-47. See his exclusive interview with News Five. Six Year Old Shooting Victim Recovering

Published: Tue, July 15, 2008 - 6:04 pm

Jessica Taloney

AJ Ezell doesn't know why he's in the hospital.

"He just knows it hurts, and he wants it to stop," says Sherell Allen, AJ's mom, who has been documenting everything since her son was shot last month with an AK-47.

Allen and her two children were on their way home from Vacation Bible School June 23rd when their car got caught in the crossfire of what investigators say was a domestic dispute that turned violent. AJ, 6, was shot three times with the high powered rifle... once in his back, his hand and his leg.
Bandages still cover the bullet wounds and a tower of IVs stand behind him. Allen says her son's road to recovery is just beginning.

"We stood him up for the first time Saturday and he sat back down. It's basically like a one year old starting to learn how to walk, learn how to stand up, learn how to take steps again."

But, in just the last three days, little AJ has shown some signs of improvement that put a smile on his mom's face almost as big as his! For the first time in his three week hospital stay, AJ is finally finding the strength to play some of his favorite video games.

"I'm gonna beat you," he shouts, as he races against his mom.

"It makes me feel good to just see him sit down here and play this," she says. "I'm like okay, my baby is coming back slowly, but he's coming back."

Cedric Morrissette, Trevante Smith, Nicholas Roberson and Kendun Buchanan are each charged with two counts of attempted murder in connection to the shooting. Their intended target, 23-year-old Tyrone Smith, suffered a bullet wound to the face. A second person, who investigators believe were also targeted in the shooting, was not injured.
The four suspects are scheduled to be back in court July 21st.

A fund for AJ Ezell is set up at Compass Bank to help pay for his medical expenses. The 6-year-old could be in the hospital for another full month.