According to CBS Dallas:
Dallas Police have arrested a 46-year-old Dallas man in the shooting of an 8-year-old boy Tuesday night at an apartment complex.
Donald “DJ” Maiden, Jr. is in critical but stable condition at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.
According to reports, DJ was outside playing in the parking lot at the La Bella Palms Apartments just before dark. He took a gunshot full in the face, but managed to run for help.
Neighbor John Fuller was astounded at that. “He was holding, all his jaw was just hanging, like, and all his little friends was over there crying and stuff,” he said.
Fuller and his friends were dumbstruck when the third-grader ran past them, rushing home to his mother.
“I heard a loud bang. And then five seconds later a little kid, little DJ, he ran around the corner holding his jaw with a mouthful of blood,” said Justin Yancey, who dialed 911.
Police identify the gunman as Brian Cloninger of Dallas.
He apparently doesn’t live at the apartment complex but Fuller saw his truck parked there early in the afternoon.
Cloninger was arrested for injury to a child and is being held on a $2.2-million bond.
None of this answers the family’s question of “why?” said Sharon Locklin, DJ’s grandmother. “I just don’t know why this would happen. I’ve never experienced anything like this. And I don’t understand why someone would target an innocent child like this.”
