CHESTERFIELD — Chesterfield County police are still trying to determine who's to blame for the July Fourth shooting death of a 7-year-old boy. Investigators believe someone had been firing randomly in the air and a stray bullet struck the boy in the head.
Brendon Mackey, 7, was walking with his father when he suddenly fell. It was shortly before 9 p.m., as a crowd awaited a fireworks show at Swift Creek Reservoir in the Brandermill community, according to police.
Frances H. Derrer, a registered nurse from Midlothian who happened to be walking nearby, said she didn't see Brendon fall. She rushed over when she heard a woman who was leaning over Brendon say, "He has no pulse."
The other woman also identified herself as a nurse, Derrer said.
Though Derrer said there were no signs of a pulse or breathing, and his lips were purple, she and the woman performed CPR for several minutes.
"I just don't understand why anyone would shoot guns up in the air," Derrer said Friday evening, calling it a "senseless act."
Derrer said Brendon's father was standing nearby and told her he didn't know what had happened. He told her that his son had been laughing before suddenly dropping to the ground.
Derrer said there was blood on the pavement around the back of Brendon's head. But at the time, nobody at the scene realized he had been shot, she said.
Brendon was rushed to VCU Medical Center.
"Doctors discovered that Brendon had suffered an apparent gunshot wound to the top of his head," police said. "Police believe this wound was the result of someone shooting randomly into the air, likely from a distance, and not an intentional act. Police need the public's help to locate whoever fired the round."
Derrer said she had not heard gunshots that night but added it was very loud, because of the large crowd with a lot of children.
As of Friday afternoon, the police department had received some phone calls from the public but was left with "nothing really to report," said Chesterfield police Sgt. Jason Seamster.
Police asked that anyone who fired a gun or who knows someone who fired within 5 miles of the reservoir call (804) 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660 or visit CrimeSolvers.net.
bshulleeta@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6391
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