Two boys, 10 and 17, shot in Durham since Friday

A teen was shot in the leg in Durham early Monday, just days after a 10-year-old was shot, also in the leg, police said.

Around 12:30 a.m., a 17-year-old male was walking near Old Oxford Highway when someone shot him from a car. He was taken to the hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, Durham Police Department spokeswoman Kammie Michael wrote in an email.

Around 9 p.m. Friday, a 10-year-old boy was shot in the leg while riding in the back of a car on Dearborn Drive near Apollo Street. He also was taken to the hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, Michael wrote.

Police do not have a description of a suspect in either case, Michael wrote.

As of Aug. 22, 26 people under the age of 18 had been shot in Durham this year. Eighteen of those people were 16 or 17 years old. Five were between the ages of 6 and 15. Three were 5 or younger.

In the same period, a total of 189 people had been shot in Durham. This number includes homicides, but does not include accidental shootings or self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

All told, as of July 25, reported violent crime in Durham was up nearly 15% this year, according to police department statistics. Non-domestic aggravated assaults, which can include shootings, were up 42%.

The police department is trying to increase officer visibility and reduce response time on gun-related calls, The News & Observer reported.

It also has created a violent crime task force to work with other units, including the gang unit and the intelligence unit to identify trends and suspects.

This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Two boys, 10 and 17, shot in Durham since Friday."