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Child Recovering After Head Grazed By Bullet

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A toddler is recovering on his second birthday after his head was grazed by a bullet Sunday.

The child, nicknamed Shaba, was struck about 4:30 a.m. Sunday while in his grandfather's arms outside his home in Miami, police said.

He just turned two Monday and is expected to be okay.

"Anybody who can open fire when there's a baby around, they are going to have no remorse, said Truda Hanna, the boy's grandmother, "They don't have a heart at all."

Hanna said the boy's grandfather was babysitting three children, including Shaba. He was holding the sleeping boy outside his home at NW 75th Street and NW 8th Avenue.

According to detectives, Shaba's father pulled up outside the home.  When the grandfather went toward Shaba's father, another car reportedly pulled up and shots were fired.  While the grandfather ducked, police said the boy's father was grazed by a bullet.  Another bullet grazed the toddler's head.

"It went in. They took it out of the skull," said Hanna. "The policeman said it was a ricochet. It would have had to come off the house and hit the baby."

Doctors removed a bullet fragment from top of the toddler's skull.

"It was in top of his skull, underneath the bone, in the top of his skull, it was close to his brain," said Truda Hanna, the boy's grandmother. "He has no brain injuries, he has no signs of needing therapy or anything. He's just resting right now after the surgery. Too many children in this Miami-Dade community are getting hit up by bullets, AKs, you know. It's just real, real, real dangerous right now to even play in the yard and fortunately, my grandson was very fortunate and blessed."

Police said they had no information about the gunman and they are trying to determine if Shaba's father was the target.

"The reaction was I am very happy and thanks to God he wasn't going to be in a coma," Hanna added.  "We want these crimes brought to justice and if they are listening, if they are listening, it's like to me, you never know when this type of stuff is going to hit home."

Police are searching for a white or silver, newer model Infiniti four-door.

If you have information about the shooting, call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.

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