Boy caught in crossfire of fight outside HS football game may never walk again
The family of a 12-year-old boy who was injured when gunfire erupted following a high school football game says he may never walk again.
By: Matt Johnson
Updated: August 22, 2019 - 11:10 PM
ATLANTA — The family of a 12-year-old boy who was injured when gunfire erupted following a high school football game says he may never walk again.
The shooting happened Saturday night following the game at Lakewood Stadium. Isaiah Payton, 12, and a 16-year-old were hit.
Five days later, Isaiah's mother told Channel 2's Matt Johnson that her son is bracing for the likelihood he will never get to play high school football like he always wanted.
"They ruined my baby's whole life," Isaiah's mother, Allison Wood, said. "The bullet went through his spine. My child is never going to be able to walk again. It's just hard."
Wood said she's been by her son's side at two different hospitals since the shooting.
Isaiah was there to watch a rivalry game between Mays and Carver high schools.
Police say a fight after the game spilled over into a neighborhood.
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Isaiah's mother told Johnson that her son was caught in the crossfire.
"You are at a kids' game. Why are you shooting, anyway?" Wood said.
Atlanta police say the search continues for the shooter or shooters but say they had trouble getting witnesses to cooperate at the scene.
It was just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday when Wood said she got the call that she knew would change their lives forever.
"Just been in a state of shock. You ain't never think, like, somebody is going to call and tell you your child's been shot," Wood said.
Police say the shooting also injured a 16-year-old, who has since been released from the hospital.
Wood said her football-loving son may never get to play again but what gives her strength is the silver lining.
"I ain't really been able to get much rest, but I thank God he's alive and breathing," Wood said.
His mother and Atlanta police are very eager to get information that could lead to the people responsible.
Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.