Toddler injured during shootout released from hospital

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 1-year-old girl who was injured during a shootout in southeast Charlotte on Monday is now home with her family.

Channel 9 veteran crime reporter Mark Becker spoke with the toddler’s mother to find out how she was doing.

“She had the nurses in the hospital laughing and smiling. Everybody loved her in there. Everybody just loves DeAara. She’s a good baby,” the mother said.

The toddler had to undergo surgery after the shooting on Independence Boulevard.

“My baby was not grazed. There was so much blood on her face you couldn’t even tell where she got shot at,” the mother said.

Two teens have been charged in the incident, including the toddler’s father, 19-year-old De’Aaron Truesdale, and a 15-year-old boy who was a passenger in the vehicle.

According to police, the 15-year-old boy and 1-year-old were passengers in a vehicle driven by Truesdale. While they were driving along East Independence Boulevard, police said a gold sedan pulled up next to them, and gunfire was exchanged.

The 15-year-old was shot in the leg, and DeAara was grazed in the head.

“I don’t think what they’re saying is true. I feel like she got shot from the other car,” the mother said.

But police told Channel 9 that all the evidence shows that the bullets that hit the toddler and the boy were fired from inside that van.

Police have charged Truesdale with assault and child abuse. On Thursday, he was still in jail.

(WATCH: CMPD: 2 teens charged after 1-year-old grazed in head during shootout)

CMPD: 2 teens charged after 1-year-old grazed in head during shootout

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