CHELSEA, MASS. (WHDH) - CHELSEA (WHDH) – An Everett man is due in court after being taken into custody for a shooting that injured 13-year-old Juan Lopez Delgado in Chelsea Wednesday night.
Christian Garcia, 19, has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
According to police, officers had been tracking a car they believed Garcia was driving or was a passenger in. State Police stopped the car and placed Garcia under arrest. They say surveillance video assisted in tracking the suspect.
Police said shots were fired in a park on Bellingham Street near Bosson Park Wednesday night and a stray bullet went through the window of a building near the park.
Thirteen-year-old Delgado was struck in the shoulder by a stray bullet that came in through his third-floor bedroom wall while he was laying in bed.
He was taken to Mass General Hospital and is listed in good condition, though family members say surgeons could not remove the bullet.
Delgado’s family said he is in severe pain, cannot move his arm and will need physical therapy.
Delgado said he was feeling good as he came home Thursday evening and thanked everyone for their support.
“All I want to say is Thanks God for letting me stay a little longer. And thanks for all of the support that you all have given me,” the boy said to reporters Thursday night.
Delgado’s mother said she is deeply upset, and does not understand why such activity has to happen in a playground.
People who live in the area say the sound of gunshots in their neighborhood is all too common and needs to stop.
“There is always gang activities up here,” one Chelsea resident said. “We need to stop all of this violence that is going on around here.”
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)