3-year-old child fatally shot while riding his tricycle

Just weeks shy of his 4th birthday, a Buffalo, New York, boy was fatally shot while riding his tricycle outside on a hot summer night, authorities said.

The 3-year-old boy was playing outside with his 7-year-old sister during a family gathering when the two were hit by gunfire around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 21, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said during ‘a press conference. alongside Buffalo Police officials on Saturday, June 22.

The boy, who was later identified by police as Ramone Carter, was taken by officers to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph A. Gramalia said. He said the boy’s older sister was also taken to hospital. She was hit by a bullet and is expected to survive.

“I am heartbroken by what happened and I think we are all tired of standing up and announcing situations like this to the community,” Mayor Brown said. He added that the shooting was not related to the family reunion.

Gramalia said two persons of interest were quickly arrested and questioned by police, but were ultimately released. He said investigators also recovered a firearm, which is being tested, and that he does not believe the children were targeted in any way.

“There’s no way they were the target of this,” Gramalia told reporters. “The motives for the shots fired or the shooters and what their motive was, we will endeavor to determine.”

Martina Carter, Ramone’s older sister, told WKBW-TV that her brother was an “amazing child” and called his death “devastating.”

“I never thought a 3-year-old playing outside at a graduation party would be… shot,” she said, according to the station.

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According to Mayor Brown, Ramone’s mother is active in the community and has worked to keep other families and children safe as a member of the Most Valuable Parents organization. Today, she faces her own tragedy.

“We must lay down our weapons,” declared the mayor. “There is no reason for all these illegal guns to be on the streets.”

Although no arrests have been made, authorities are offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to the arrest or indictment of those involved in Ramone’s murder. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers WNY at (716)-867-6161.