CINCINNATI — An 8-year-old boy who was shot in the head in East Westwood June 12 is now out of a coma and breathing on his own, according to his mother.

Marcellus Whitehead, who goes by MJ, was walking to a nearby store with his big brother when he was struck. He’s been in the ICU ever since. His mother, Marcella Thompson, said he’s improving slowly, but steadily.

“It’s better than before,” she said. “I’ll tell you that. Every little thing that improves is working toward progress. That’s all that matters to me. From ‘he’s not going to make it through the night’ to where I’m at today, I’m happy with that.”

The incident which resulted in Marcellus’ injury happened in broad daylight outside of a convenience store.

“People don’t think before they act, you know?” Thompson said. “They don’t think about other people, or their families. Any of that. It’s frustrating to see this senseless stuff going on.”

She said MJ was taken off of a ventilator after 60 days. He’s alert and breathing on his own. He’s currently fighting off fluid on the brain, but he’s been able to move his arms and legs.

“He’s definitely a fighter,” Thompson said. “He’s got a lot of fight in him.”

East Westwood Community Council president Rodney Christian gathers kids of all ages to try and reverse a trend.

“Don’t waste opportunities to talk to kids,” he said. “They’re here for basketball and that hoop, but you can also take that and use it as bait. Put it on a hook and reel it in to talk about something else.”

The Third Presbyterian Church operates a rec center with basketball courts every weekday from 3:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. to give area kids something constructive to do with their time.

“We have to fight for MJ right now,” Christian said. “Out here. On making a change.”

Her life changed in an instant – and now Marcella Thompson said she tries to focus on the positive.

“I tell him (MJ) every day how strong he is,” she said. “I think that gets him through it. I think me seeing how strong he is gets me through it. I have a lot of faith and a lot of hope.”

Three days after the shooting, Darius Harris Jr., 19, was charged with four counts of felonious assault for firing the shots that injured Whitehead and three others. He is currently being held in the Hamilton County Jail and is awaiting trial.

CINCINNATI —

Dozens of people gathered in East Westwood Thursday evening to discuss gun violence in the neighborhood and solutions.

The East Westwood Community Council's monthly meeting at Third Presbyterian Church had ten times the number of attendees it typically does.

"For the youth, it seems like, I think a lot of them feel hopeless," said Gwendolyn Hampton who grew up in the area and still has family who live in Westwood.

The meeting comes on the heels of a quadruple shooting not far from the church. A 6-year-old and 8-year-old boy were shot.

The 8-year-old's mother spoke at the meeting.

"I have good kids. They're not out hanging doing anything wrong," Marcella Thompson said. "I feel like the community should come together and just do better for our youth because my child was an innocent child."

He is still fighting for his life in the intensive care unit.

"He was just walking to the store," she said. "And he never came back home."

East Westwood Community Council President Rodney Christian gave a passionate speech to the audience, advocating that every community steps up in some way, coaches, business owners and homeowners alike.

"If things like this don't wake us up, what will?" he asked. "Something has to change. We're in the red. Your children's children are going to be living in hell if we sit here and ignore it today."

Some Cincinnati police officers were also in attendance, answering questions and addressing concerns.

"Cannot do it without them. 100% cannot do it without them," said Sgt. Jacob Hicks, the neighborhood liaison for district three. "It makes it easier for us to do our job, because now, I can communicate messages from the police department, what we're seeing, and take it to the community, and the community now they have a better voice."

The East Westwood Community Council is holding a 'Stop the Violence' festival Saturday, July 31 from 3-7 p.m. It will be held at Third Presbyterian Church with raffles, games, 3-on-3 tournaments and more.