Teen shot twice in head waits three days to go to hospital, police say

Cedar Rapids police say a 13-year-old boy was shot twice in the head, but did not go to a hospital for three days.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman, said police first learned of the shooting when the boy was brought to the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center on Wednesday morning. Two gunshot wounds were found on the left side of the boy's head, behind his ear, Hamblin said.

The boy told officers he was injured shortly before 2 a.m. on Jan. 1. According to the police report, the boy heard several gunshots when he was taking out the garbage at his house, 1651 34th St. SE. He thought it was someone celebrating the New Year.

"He didn't know he had been shot until he went back inside and realized he was bleeding," Hamblin said.

According to police, the boy was with a friend, but his mother was out of town, so they cleaned up the wound at home. When the boy's mother returned home, she took him to the hospital. He was treated and released.

During an interview with police, the boy gave the indication that he didn't think the shooting was a big deal, Hamblin said. She did not have details of the actual wounds, but her understanding was that he was not simply grazed by the bullets.

Investigators have no leads and are unsure if the boy was the target of the shooter, Hamblin said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (319) 286-5491.