Days after being shot four times during a drive-by in East Atlanta Village, a 9-year-old boy has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
Javonni Carson, a rising fourth grader at Atlanta’s Deerwood Academy, was one of three people injured Wednesday evening when gunfire erupted in a parking lot along Flat Shoals Avenue.
Carson was shot four times in his left leg as he filmed TikTik videos with two of his older siblings, his family said.
RELATED: 9-year-old shot 4 times in East Atlanta was filming TikTok videos, mother says
After spending several days in the hospital and undergoing emergency surgery to repair his femur, Carson returned home over the weekend. Javonni’s mother, Keyona Carson, said her son is doing well but still has a long road to recovery.
The child is currently using a wheelchair, but should be able to walk again after several weeks of physical therapy, she said.
In addition to physical therapy, Javonni will need counseling to help him get over the trauma of the shooting.
“He’s doing OK, but he has to go to counseling because he’s shell-shocked,” his mother said. “Every loud noise he hears, he thinks that it’s a gunshot.”
Surveillance footage of the shooting obtained by Channel 2 Action News appears to show several people diving behind cars as shots are fired into the crowd.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
According to an Atlanta police report, at least five cars were struck by gunfire and officers recovered 42 shell casings from the scene. No arrests have been made in the case.
MORE: 9-year-old boy among 3 people shot in East Atlanta Village
While their home is on the ground level, Keyona Carson said her son is having some trouble adapting to his wheelchair, which doesn't fit through all of their doorways.
Additionally, the gravel road outside their house makes it tough to roll Javonni in and out.
“He’s still getting into the groove of things. He’s used to doing everything on his own,” Keyona Carson said. “Now he has to get help doing basic things, and that kind of bothers him.”
While he was looking forward to returning to school, Javonni will likely spend the year completing his work from home.
ALSO: 5 dead, more than 2 dozen injured in Atlanta holiday weekend shootings
A GoFundMe page set up to cover the cost of the family's hospital bills and physical therapy expenses had raised more than $11,000 of its $20,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.
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Credit: AJC
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