Rotterdam boy, 11, injured in February shooting dies from his injuries; Two in custody
An 11-year-old boy who was found shot in a Rotterdam home four weeks ago died from his injuries on Thursday afternoon, police said. Though he was struck by a bullet while inside the building, the firearm was found on the street. Investigators now believe the shooting was accidental, though initially neighbors speculated that the incident was linked to a conflict in the drill rap music scene. Two teenaged boys from Rotterdam remain in custody for the shooting, which may have happened while young people were playing with the weapon.
The severely injured child was found in the residence on Asterlo in the city's Charlois district at about 7:30 p.m. on February 16. Police officers responded to the scene after neighbors called the emergency services center to report the loud gunshot in the Zuidwijk neighborhood.
The young victim was revived at the scene and taken to an area hospital. He spent nearly a month fighting for his life in critical condition before his death, police said in an update on Friday morning.
A total of six children were arrested in the ten days following the incident, including boys aged 12, 13 and 15 from Rotterdam, and a 14-year-old girl from the city. Police also arrested a 16-year-old boy from Enschede and a boy from Maarsbergen who is two years younger. On March 7, police announced the additional arrest of a 16-year-old from Rotterdam.
"The police are still conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. The scenario that is considered most probable is that a group of friends were playing with a firearm, at which time a shot was fired unintentionally, and the 11-year-old boy was struck. The scenario that there was deliberate violence between groups of young people has been ruled out," police said on Friday.
Only two of the children remain in custody, police said. They were identified as the Rotterdam boys who are 15 and 16 years of age. The Enschede boy was released from custody in the past week. It was not clear if all seven children are still considered criminal suspects.
The shooting took place while the 11-year-old victim, a resident of the Hoogvliet district, was visiting the home, where children often gathered loudly late into the night. "They often made noise, which is difficult if you have to get up early in the morning to work," a neighbor told AD.
Witnesses said a group of young people raced out of the apartment building after the incident. The gun was found in the bushes near the scene.
The boys who were taken into custody are believed to be involved in the drill rap music scene, according to AD. The music groups affiliated with this genre often involve rappers brandishing various weapons.
"Each suspect’s individual role in this incident is being investigated," police previously said.
