Boy, 2, shot in east Columbus drive-by, on the mend

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The mother of a two-year-old boy who was shot and seriously injured outside his home in east Columbus is now speaking out about his recovery, saying the boy is getting stronger each day.

This shooting happened on July 7. Columbus Police say it was a drive-by shooting and believe the shooter was in a gray or silver four-door sedan.

The boy’s mother said she is still trying to grasp everything that’s happened in the last few days.  She doesn't want her name or face to be known, but she wants the community to know her son’s story and how much of a fighter he is.

“I am grateful and blessed that he's okay,” the mother said

Her son’s name is Dae'Vaughn Shealey Jr. She said they call him DJ.

His mother said that on July 7, they went to church then came home to their house on Carlton Avenue and had a cookout. Around 9 p.m., she said someone drove by the home and fired shots, hitting DJ. She said when she first saw him after the shooting, he was unrecognizable.

“He looked totally different when I first saw him,” the woman said. “It was like his face was swollen and stuff and I didn't like that.”

The mother said she didn’t know if he would make it but said the first time he opened his eyes was very emotional.

“I just started crying because it was like beautiful,” the mother said. “That was like my sign from God to let me know everything was going to be all right. Even the first night he got out, he gave me a sign that everything was going to be okay.”

She said the doctors have taken out his breathing and feeding tubes. He is still having trouble swallowing and moving his left side, but his mother said they are taking it day by day.

“He's shown us every day that he's capable of doing a lot and they were talking about a rehab floor they have here for him and they're just waiting for a bed to open up,” she said.

She said DJ loves going to church and he loves cars. She said when he makes it through this battle, she wants to do something special.

“So me and my family was talking about, like, I don't know, probably in like a year or like when he is fully fully healed to go to, like Disney World or Disneyland where they have like the Car movie thing,” she said. “That's what he watches 24/7.”

The mother said the family has started a GoFundMe to help pay for medical costs.

Columbus police still haven't found the person responsible for this shooting. Police believe the shots were fired from someone in a gray or silver four-door sedan. Police ask anyone with any information to call 614-645-4545.