‘He’s an innocent child;’ 8-year-old boy in coma after being shot in the head in Virginia Beach home
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Just over 24 hours ago, 8-year-old Landyn Davis was playing video games on his dad’s computer. Now, his parents told 10 On Your Side, he’s in a medically-induced coma at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters after a bullet went through his head.
Child shot in Virginia Beach in critical condition
Steven Davis and Emily Rigsby were at a school wrestling match Tuesday, Feb. 13. Minutes after arriving, they got a call from their 15-year-old daughter who was home with their 8-year-old son, Landyn Davis.
Their daughter was in hysterics and quickly hung up, so they called 911 and raced to their home on Peele Court.
When they got there, police surrounded their street. The couple said 20 bullets went through their home, one striking Landyn, who was in their second-floor bedroom playing a computer game.
“Right in the side, but in the back of his head,” Rigsby said. “The bullet came, I guess, under the window, but right enough to where he was sitting at.”
Landyn was rushed to CHKD where he had emergency surgery.
“It was chaotic,” Rigsby said. “Trying to make it here with our son, not knowing if he was going to make it or not. He does have a traumatic brain injury where the bullet went into his head. They did not remove the bullet because it could have caused more damage. [The doctors were] just watching for the swelling and the pressure from the brain for the next day or two.”
Doctors are monitoring Landyn’s brain waves while he’s in a coma.
“By the graces of God, he’s doing great,” Rigsby said. “It’s just going to be healing and getting back to normal.”
Landyn is the youngest of four children. To whoever fired into their home, the couple has a message.
“He’s an innocent child,” Rigsby said. “He did nothing to anybody. He didn’t deserve that. You have taken so much from him, especially not knowing the extent of his brain damage. He’s a bright kid. He loves Legos. He might never be able how to mentally comprehend how to build again or play his video games which he loved to do.”
Virginia Beach police have not released information on a suspect. Friends of the Davis family have started a GoFundMe to help with Landyn’s medical expenses.
Check with WAVY.com for updates.
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