Neighbors React After Gun Violence Sends Several Teens To Hospital

WILMINGTON, DE (CBS) -- Four children under the age of 16 are recovering after being shot in Wilmington Tuesday night. Neighbors say this isn't the first burst of violence in that community this week.

Of the four teens struck, one still remains in critical condition. Residents are now searching for a solution.

"I put my family to the ground make sure they didn't get hit," said nearby resident Felix Rodriguez.

Some neighbors say the shots were close and sounded like blasts.

"It actually made me run and duck and hide until it was all over with," said Rachel, who chose not to disclose her full name.

Just outside her door at Read and Van Buren streets four teenagers had been hit by bullets. Police say the victims are between 12 and 16 years old and three of them were shot multiple times.

"Last night it was just a nightmare really."

Darlene VanRiper says her 12-year-old grandson Christian Williams was among the wounded. He was in surgery Wednesday morning for a bullet still lodged in his hip. He had also been shot in the side.

"Low and behold I walked around the corner and saw my grandson sitting on the steps with the glass shattered behind him from the gunshots," VanRiper said describing the incident.

This Wilmington neighborhood known as Hedgeville has had three shootings this week. There are a total of six gunshot victims.

Neighbors out here question the safety of their community and wonder what will be done to address the violence.

"What makes it even worse is they're kids, it's really sad, it's heartbreaking honestly."

Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams released a statement addressing resident's concern over the uptick in violence.

The statement read in part,

"The police department continues to attack gun violence within the local community by increasing the presence of uniformed officers and talking to community members to pro-actively respond to violent crime."