Update
Thanks to a tremendous outpouring of support from the community, there are several events happening in the next few weeks to assist the Duran family in their time of need.
On Saturday, January 21, from 5-8 p.m. there will be a Fundraiser Dinner held at South Shore Falls Clubhouse. The Clubhouse is located at 5831 Cascade Falls Ln. in Apollo Beach. Tickets are available at the door for $10. For more information, call Tampa PC Networks at 699-9325.
On Saturday, January 28, through Sunday, January 29, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. there will be a Yard Sale for Diego Duran held at the FireHouse Cultural Center, located at 101 1st Ave NE in Ruskin. For more information, call 641-8635.
To see learn of other events and keep up with Diego’s progress, “like” his Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/friendsofdiegoduran.
Original Story
Hillsborough County Sheriff detectives are in need of help to find a person in the Ruskin area who may have fired a gun into the air during the New Years Eve festivities, which landed a child in the hospital fighting for his life.
“It appears at this time that the child was shot from celebratory gunfire, falling from the sky from a distance that could range from miles away,” said HCSO spokesperson Larry McKinnon.
During the evening celebration, Diego Duran, 12, of Ruskin and his family were sitting outside their home watching fireworks being shot off in the area neighborhood.
Just after 1:00 a.m., still outside, the boy’s mother saw her son fall to the ground bleeding from his nose and eyes, deputies said.
Recognizing that there was a serious medical issue, though unaware of the reason for the bleeding, she drove her son to South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center. It was quickly determined that Duran suffered from a gunshot wound, which entered through the top of his head.
Duran was then transferred to Tampa General Hospital, where he remains in critical condition with the bullet still lodged in his head, deputies said.
Detectives have interviewed the child’s family members and neighbors and determined that no one in the immediate area is responsible.
McKinnon also emphasized that the department informed residents that if a bullet is fired more than a mile in the air, it can have miles of trajectory.
HCSO now needs the help of anyone who may have information regarding these events.
The investigation is still on going and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 247-8200.
You must be logged in to post a comment.