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Teens shot, bullets fly into Grand Rapids apartments

Posted at 11:11 PM, Aug 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-14 23:11:37-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Police are looking for two men responsible for shooting two teenagers on Grand Rapids northeast side, Sunday afternoon. Authorities said the injuries aren't serious, however, there was lots of property damage.

Among the shell casings, police tape, and uniformed officers, a pair of sliding doors stood out at a crime scene on the 1800 block of Bradford Street Northeast. Bullets shattered the glass at the Cambridge Square Apartments.

"I'm like, 'Where do I live at?' I feel like I live in Compton," resident Shanelle Brown chuckled.

At least one of those bullets traveled through a family's dining and family rooms, pierced a vase and exited the front window.

"I heard about three or four gunshots. That's what woke me up, and I went running around looking to see what it was," recalled a man who asked to be identified 'Jeremiah'.

His neighbor, who wanted to remain nameless, came home to see her sliding door in the same condition.

"All I can say is I thank God I wasn't here," she told FOX 17.

Fortunately, no one inside any of the apartments was hit. Police said the 14-year-old and 17-year-old victims were outside when they were struck.  The younger boy was taken to the hospital after being shot in the leg. The older teen was treated and released at the scene after a bullet grazed his back.

Sergeant Terry Dixon said, "We want to make sure that we get firsthand information from our victims and have our victims walk us through the exact details of what took place."

Brown recalled, "I heard the shots, and I seen a boy in a red shirt run down this way. I told my son to get down. He was in the living room watching TV."

When Brown came outside to survey the damage, she was stunned to find a bullet struck her apartment's door frame. Another bullet went through her SUV. She's lived at Cambridge just four months and said she’s tired of the shootings. For her 7-year-old's sake, she said it's time to break the lease.

"I got to go. I can't live here," Brown told FOX 17.

Grand Rapids police said they're trying to determine a motive and haven't yet revealed the relationship between those two victims. Police said the shooters sped away in a white vehicle. If you have any information call Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.