BELLEVILLE, Ill. — A 16-year-old boy is in the hospital recovering from a Belleville shooting Saturday night, according to police.
Around 6:50 p.m., the Belleville Police Department responded to a call about a victim of a shooting in the 900 block of N. 2nd Street near the Belleville Skate Board Park. When officers arrived, they found the teen lying in the road, right near the curb, with a bullet-related injury.
They said he'd been shot multiple times.
Officers immediately started first aid on the victim. Shortly after, paramedics took him to a local hospital for emergency treatment.
5 On Your Side confirmed with the boy's stepmother, who wanted to stay anonymous due to safety, that the teen is recovering and could use all the prayers he could get.
On Sunday afternoon the initial aggravated battery investigation found that the victim was involved in an "altercation over narcotics" with two other male suspects just before the shooting occurred, according to the Belleville police news release.
Witnesses at the scene told police the suspects appeared to be two young men, possibly in their teens, according to the press release.
The suspects fled the area Saturday around 7 p.m. and headed toward West H Street. One ran down the road, the other hopped on a bike, police said.
Residents told 5 On Your Side that the area has seen several drug-related incidents recently.
The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit is assisting Belleville detectives to learn more about the incident.
Friends of the gun violence victim were planning a vigil at the skate park on Sunday around 8 p.m.
Investigators encourage anyone with information regarding Saturday's shooting to call Belleville Police at 618-234-1212 or Crime Stoppers at 866-371-TIPS.