Mother And Toddler Recovering After South Minneapolis Shooting
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Last week a mother and toddler were both shot while walking near Peavey Park in Minneapolis. Now, Shandrea Spielman is talking about their recovery.
Shandrea and her 15-month-old daughter Eden suffered gunshot wounds. Eden spent six days in the hospital.
"It was nice outside, pretty warm out," said 22-year-old Spielman. "Eden fell asleep in the stroller."
A walk after leaving a doctor's check-up was exactly what they needed, but in a split second the serenity of the day was interrupted by gunshots.
"I thought, 'It's not gun shots. It's the middle of the day and I'm in a park,'" Spielman said. "But then I looked down and saw the blood dripping down my leg."
Spielman said her leg gave out and her daughter started to cry. She still didn't know Eden had been shot until the ambulance arrived and paramedics told her.
"I didn't really care that I got hit. I was more happy that she didn't," Spielman said. "So when I found out that she did it was not a good day anymore."
Doctors had to put Eden under during her surgery, all while Spielman was dealing with a serious bullet wound in her calf muscle. The same bullet hit both mom and daughter.
"It went through my leg, through the stroller into her back and hit her lower hip bone," Spielman said.
Police arrested 24-year-old Dontae Peterson for shooting at rival gang members and hitting an innocent woman and child. Investigators say they have a case, but some witnesses have refused to cooperate.
"This is a baby and a mom and the code of silence needs to be broken," said Sgt. Greg Freeman.
In the meantime, Spielman is just thankful her daughter will be okay.
"Everything happens for a reason I guess. If we hadn't gotten hit he may not have gotten caught and someone else could have gotten hurt or died," said Shandrea.
Spielman could have long-term nerve damage in her leg. Her daughter has to stay use a colostomy bag for 6 more weeks and take pain medication.
Spielman is also pregnant with her third child she's thankful this wasn't worse.
