Community Rallies For Peace After Grandmother Hit By Stray Bullet In Wilmington
WILMINGTON, Del., (CBS) -- A community rallies for peace after one of their own, a grandmother, was hit by a flying bullet while she sat outside with her grandson.
Cheryl Allen, 57, just released from the hospital, says doctors called her lucky. We're told, the stray bullet that entered her chest and exited through the back missed her vital organs.
Dozens gathered for the peace rally Wednesday in the wake of the shooting that broke out Monday at about 5:30 p.m. in the 400 block of W. 25th Street in Wilmington, Delaware.
According to police, two unknown black males began shooting at an unknown person or persons from the intersection of W. 25th and N. Madison Streets.
"They turned the corner, they stood on the corner and when turned, they just started shooting," Cheryl explained.
As it turns out, it was a close call even for her grandson.
"It's a good thing that I put him down because he would have been sitting next to me and he likes to sit on this side so it would have got him before it got me," Cheryl recalled.
Police say the 57-year-old grandmother was not the intended target and the suspects fled in an unknown direction.
Allen's husband, Matthew said, "I was devastated, I freaked out."
Now with his wife on the mend, Matthew Allen Sr., a local leader of the Wilmington Peacekeepers organized the anti-violence vigil, calling the Monday's shooting a wake-up call.
"The community has to step up because the police can't do everything so we, the community, have to step up and do what we have to do," Matthew said.
As of Wednesday, police said they have been unable to identify any suspects.
Anyone with information should call:
- Detective Shane Sowden at 302-576-3606
- Wilmington Police Confidential Tip Lineat 302-576-3990
- Submit an anonymous text message tip by texting the words TIP WILMINGTON and then your tip to 888777