9-year-old with cerebral palsy dies in shooting on mom's birthday, MO family says
A 9-year-old boy was killed in a drive-by shooting that also left his older brother and father injured, according to Missouri police and family members.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is now searching for the accused shooter following the May 24 shooting on Bircher Boulevard near Ruskin Avenue, an area along Interstate 70.
Richard Neal Jr. said his family was fired upon as they were celebrating the birthday of Johnisha Hillard, the mother of their children. (Warning: Explicit language in the Facebook links.)
'It was random, we didn't do anything to them,' Neal told KMOV. 'We got on the highway to put gas in the car, never seen the car, don't know the occupants of the car, I passed them up, next thing you know, he got behind me, slowed all the way down, he sped all the way up on my bumper and got beside us and just started firing off shots.'
Hillard said in a Facebook post there was 'blood everywhere' as she recalled the cries from her children.
Neal, who was reportedly shot in the leg, began driving to the hospital after two of his children in the back seat had also been shot.
His 10-year-old son, Richard Neal III, was shot in the chest and was listed in critical but stable condition at a St. Louis hospital, according to KSDK and a police news briefing streamed by KTVI.
Jordan Neal, Hillard and Richard Neal Jr.'s 9-year-old son who was born with cerebral palsy, died from his injuries.
'It was my birthday… and now it's my son's death day,' Hillard told KSDK. 'Horrible. I will never enjoy another birthday. Because now I have to celebrate the life and the passing of my son, Jordan.'
Police have not identified the shooter, and a motive is unclear.
Jordan was born premature, weighing just 1 pound, 2 ounces, his family told KSDK. After battling through surgeries all of his life, he 'fought for three hours' in the hospital before dying.
At 9 years old, Jordan was set to go to school for the first time later this year, having already picked out his Spider-Man backpack, according to his father.
'He faced every challenge with a bright spirit and a smile that could light up any room,' the family said in a GoFundMe. 'He had already overcome so much, and losing him has left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled.'
Anyone who has information about the shooting has been asked to contact police at 314-444-5371.
'You're heartless and you're a coward because you didn't have to shoot and kill anybody. They did nothing to you,' Pamela Neal, Jordan's grandmother, said in an interview with KMOV.
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