7-Year-Old Killed At Birthday Party: Boy Killed At Birthday Party During Charlotte Shootings

A seven-year-old was killed at a birthday party when a tragic shooting occurred. Authorities identified the victim as Kevin Antonio Calderon Rodas. He was with a number of other kids during a birthday celebration at his home on Sunday at in Charlotte when a drive-by shooting struck the boy in the front yard. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

According to the Charlotte Observer, everything from the birthday party remained untouched Sunday, with pieces of the broken piñata scattered all around the driveway and blood-covered candy still there.

As officers were investigating the child’s death, they heard more gunshots being fired just five blocks away. It was there that a 30-year-old woman was shot dead while she was sitting on a porch. She’s been identified as Laquanta Franchez Young. A man near Young was also shot in the leg, but he’s expected to survive.

Several shootings happened within hours of each other. The 7-year-old killed at a birthday party was the youngest of the victims. In all, 10 were shot both Saturday and Sunday — with five of them fatal.

There were reports of a person with a rifle in the area who was driving around shooting. Police “got out on foot and walked shoulder-to-shoulder down the streets to make sure there was no further violence.”

The shootings happened within hours of each other Saturday and Sunday during a particularly violent weekend in Charlotte. In all, 10 people were shot across the city, five fatally.

Another child and two adults were injured following the Charlotte shootings, but their injuries were non-life threatening.

It’s unclear if all of the shootings are connected at this point in the investigation. According to WCNC, police say that three people were believed to have opened fire when the boy was killed during the birthday party.

Deputy Chief Jeff Estes is dismayed and shocked by the Charlotte shootings after a seven-year-old was killed at a birthday party.

“It’s a sad state of affairs in this city and our country when a seven-year-old boy can’t be free to celebrate at a birthday party without being murdered. If you know something about this crime and you don’t say something, we ask that you clear your conscience and let us know what you know so there will be no more senseless loss of life.

“If nothing else will compel you other than a seven-year-old boy being killed at a birthday party, I’m not … sure what will.”

Anyone with information regarding the Charlotte shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

[Photo by George Frey/Getty Images]