10-Year-Old Boy Shot During Pleasantville High School Football Game Dies From Injuries
PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. (CBS) -- A 10-year-old boy who was shot during a football game at Pleasantville High School last Friday has died. Micah Tennant, a fifth-grader in Atlantic City, was shot in the neck while sitting in the stands during a Pleasantville-Camden High School football playoff game.
The young boy succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, the same day both teams are making up the suspended game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Alvin Wyatt, 31, has been charged with murder.
According to police, Wyatt, of Atlantic City, had a petty grudge with 27-year-old Ibn Abdullah. Court records say earlier in the game, some of Wyatt's associates noticed Abdullah in the stands and FaceTimed Wyatt, who allegedly came to the stands and opened fire.
Abdullah was shot and an unidentified 15-year-old also suffered a graze wound. Both are expected to be OK. Micah was shot in the neck and succumbed to his injuries five days later.
"Words at this time seem so insufficient to portray the anger and outrage that our community feels regarding his loss. However, his spirit will live on in so many people that he inspired. I have directed the charges against Alvin Wyatt be immediately upgraded to Murder. The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office will seek to prosecute this matter to the fullest extent of the law," Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he was "devastated" by the news of Micah's death.
"No child deserves to have their promising life cut short, especially by indiscriminate and senseless gun violence. No parent deserves to bury their child," Murphy said in a statement.
The Pleasantville Police Department also expressed its sympathy to the Tennant family.
"The world is darker today having lost the light of his smile. The events of the last few days have touched so many, and now is the time for our community spirit to shine a healing light on the Tennant family and all who have been affected by this tragedy," the department said in a statement.
Five others, including Abdullah, have been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting.
Five of the six suspects will be in court on Thursday.
Micah's family is asking for donations through a GoFundMe campaign.
CBS3's Cleve Bryan contributed to this report.
