RUSKIN, Florida - A Ruskin mother and father are hoping and praying their son will pull through after a bullet hit him in the head.
Twelve-year-old Diego Duran Jr. remains at Tampa General Hospital in critical condition. According to family members, he is in a coma, but did squeeze a nurse's hand and also opened his eyes.
Authorities with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office believe this is a case of celebratory gunfire. Investigators say the Duran family was watching fireworks outside its Ruskin home along 14th Avenue Southeast when, suddenly, Diego dropped to the ground.
No one knew what happened, but they then saw the boy bleeding from the nose and eyes. After he was rushed to the hospital, doctors determined a bullet went through the top of Diego's head.
Authorities believe someone was firing shots in the air to ring in the new year and one of the bullets hit Diego. Investigators are trying to figure out who may have pulled the trigger, but say it could be a tough task because bullets fired in the air could travel for miles.
On Monday, investigators say they received several calls from people saying they heard gunshots near the incident. Detectives are not sure what the caliber of round hit Diego, as the bullet remains lodged in his head.
If you have any information, call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.
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