Search for suspects continues after 12-year-old boy shot in Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE (WABC) -- Police voided the arrest of a man in the shooting of a young boy who was walking home from school in Brooklyn. The search for the gunman continues.

Twelve-year-old Levon Gillam is recovering and will survive, but for his family and folks in the Brownsville section, it's another sign of chaos in the street.

Late Monday night, police released a surveillance photo of the suspect. He was taken into custody soon after.

Gilliam won't be going to school or football practice for the next few days, but he is just happy to be alive.

"It felt like something bit me," Gilliam said.

The sweet young boy with his mother's grateful kiss still on his cheek was innocently walking home Monday afternoon when he got caught in someone else's gun battle.

It happened on the 200 block of Lott Avenue.

His mother saw the nightmare flash before her eyes.

"He was actually walking towards me," Shakeeta McCollum said. "We both witnessed the shooting, and we saw the guys."

Thankfully it was just a graze wound.

Levon was released from the hospital Monday night and able to give Eyewitness News two thumbs up.

But his mother remains haunted by the fact that had the bullet had struck just a few inches higher, she would be dealing with a tragedy in addition to outrage.

"If he would have moved any other way, he would have been dead," she said. "And I just thank God that it was just him getting shot in his leg."

Levon's mother told Eyewitness News that it's time for them to move out of Brownsville.