‘It just happened so fast’: Teen victim talks about shooting that injured him, killed his friend

EUCLID, Ohio (WJW) — Travis Williams Jr. hobbled down the front steps of his home on Tuesday with a fresh bandage on his leg.

The 17-year-old flashed a quick smile before leaning up against his dad.

“I still can’t believe it happened,” Williams told the FOX 8 I-Team.

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The high school junior was one of five people shot Friday night near Euclid High School. His friend, Sincere Rowdy, was killed. Three others were injured.

“I was shot here in the thigh, so the bullet went in and went up,” Williams said. “They can’t remove the bullet.”

The shooting happened about an hour after the Euclid football game ended. Police said the shooting had nothing to do with the game.

“It just happened so fast,” Williams said. “I turned, and then I turned again, and I got hit.”

His father said he is grateful his son survived, but said he is still in shock.

“You don’t expect those kind of calls,” Williams said. “They leave you and you expect they will come home safe. When they called and said he got shot, my mind just went blank.”

Police arrested a 15-year-old teen in the shooting. He is facing several charges, including murder, and was in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court on Tuesday.

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Euclid police body camera video shows officers providing first aid to all of the victims.

Other teens in the area were terrified. One teen ran to an officer and put his head on the officer’s shoulder.

“Our officers did a great job finding the suspect and providing help to everyone involved,” Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer said. “It’s absolutely devastating and completely senseless that a 17- year-old kid lost his life for nothing. It’s completely senseless.”

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