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Three-Year-Old Boy Shot In Leg During Domestic Dispute

NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBSMiami) – Authorities are investigating the shooting of a three-year-old boy following what family members said was a domestic dispute.

Family members said the bullet struck the boy named Jayden on his leg at the home on Northwest 82 Street.

Watch MaryAnn Martinez' report, click here.

Witnesses said the child was caught in the middle of the dispute between the child's mother and an ex-boyfriend who barged into the home uninvited.

"The ex-boyfriend forced his way into the house, kicking down the door," said Melvin Gomes, Jayden's grandfather. "My daughter was there with a friend. They struggled, and the ex-boyfriend took out a gun."

After a struggle, a gun that the ex-boyfriend had went off, according to family members.

"The ex-boyfriend took out a gun," said Gomez. It went off and a bullet hit the boy's leg. Fortunately, he's okay."

"He could have been killed," said Jayden's uncle. "He's innocent. He doesn't have anything to do with it."

The child is at Jackson Memorial Hospital recovering in the intensive care unit. His family members told CBS4's MaryAnn Martinez the child is in the ICU as a precaution, but he is expected to survive.

The ex-boyfriend, according to relatives, left and hasn't been seen since.

Gomez says the boy's mother and the ex-boyfriend dated for about a year and a half. The ex-boyfriend is not Jayden's father.

The family says they never saw the ex-boyfriend behave violently in the past. Now, family members are relying on the police to find on him and take him into custody.

Anyone with information on the crime can call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

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