Mother speaks out after 12-year-old boy fights for life after BB gun shooting

STORY: Man washes ashore on beach in St. Johns County 

UPDATED STORY: A 12-year-old has been detained in the BB gun shooting of 12-year-old Elijah Hill.

The suspect is being held at the Youth Detention Center in Waycross, Brunswick police said.

The juvenile is being charged with aggravated assault and further charges are pending.

A 12-year-old boy is in critical condition after his family says he was shot in the head with a BB gun by another child.

Elijah Hill is in the ICU at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville.

Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole spoke to his mother, Ashantae Hill, who says her son still has one of the rounds lodged in his head.

Ashantae said the BB went right through his left temple, through the center of his brain, and it’s now lodged in the back of his skull on the right side.

Right now, doctors are keeping Elijah sedated to keep the pressure off of his brain.

“He hasn’t been too responsive of anything. We’re trying to get him to him to see what his movement is on his left and right side. He’s not doing much with his right side, but his left is operational,” said Ashantae.

Elijah was shot in Brunswick on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on July 2.

Ashantae told Action News Jax that Elijah was airlifted to UF Shands before being transferred to Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

She said the boy who shot him lived around the corner from them. She went on to say he was his friend, and she doesn't believe he did this to her son on purpose.

“They hanged together. They were playing together when this happened,” Ashantae said.

Ashantae said she’s never seen her son with a BB gun prior to this incident.

“I would just like for everyone to please continue to pray for my baby, because we’re really in need of prayers right now. It’s going on the third day now and I’m just hoping for the best,” Ashantae said.

As she continues to pray for her son’s recovery, Ashantae told Action News Jax she wants to take this time to remind parents to take gun safety seriously.

“I don’t think any weapon of any sort should be taken lightly. And especially in the hands of a child. I think that information should be shared...that you should take your time to inform your kids about gun safety. Whether it’s a BB gun or a .45 or anything.”

Cox Media Group