It was supposed to be a Sweet 16 birthday party at the home off Ridge Run and Cedar Bluff. On Sunday, the balloons were still taped to the mailbox of the house where the night before, about 30 to 50 high school-aged teens crammed inside to celebrate.
But a witness at the party says around midnight, things took an ugly turn and spilled over outside, where a group of teens started fighting. Among them was the 17-year-old visitor.
"We broke it up the first time," said the witness, who we're not identifying. "A couple of dudes went to the car, shot like a 12-gauge six or seven times."
That's when the witness says another gun went off, this time hitting the 17-year-old three times as he stood right in front of this car. He fell to the ground as the shooters sped off.
"He dropped. They picked him up. He was rolling around on the ground, threw him in the Jeep and left," said the witness.
Sheriff deputies say the teen was taken to a nearby hospital, fighting for his life with bullet wounds to his leg, chest and neck.
Theo Daniels had planned to attend the party, but says he accidently fell asleep. He is now thankful for the unplanned nap.
"I'm glad I didn't come because I really just didn't want to be part of that," he said. "The drama, the shooting. That's not what I'm trying to do right now with my life. It's supposed to be a party, not something for people to come, gang violence and all that. It's not even necessary."
The shooter took off following the shooting, and deputies have not made any arrests in the case. No other teens were injured.
