Boy speaks after surviving drive-by shooting in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A 12-year-old is now released from the hospital after being injured in what Metro Nashville Police believe was a drive-by shooting early Friday morning.

Middle school student Joshua Smith said he was lying in bed when bullets started flying through the windows and his wall. At first, he thought it was fireworks until he felt pain in his foot.

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“It was just scary seeing all the blood coming out of my foot,” Joshua said. “I just thought, ‘I really just got shot.’ And I just thought who would do that.

‘I’m not in a gang, I’m 12’: Boy speaks out after surviving drive-by shooting in North Nashville(WSMV)

Joshua said that before this, he had never broken a bone. His worst injury was a sprained ankle. He said the lessons he learned at school had taken effect.

“I really thought some of my toes were gone. I couldn’t see at all,” he said. “But I was taught to get on the ground and stay on the ground. Stay on the ground so you don’t get hit by a bullet.

Joshua crawled to his mother’s room before being taken to the hospital. As for who did this or if he was a target, the family has no idea.

“I’m not part of a gang. I am 12 years old. I don’t do any drugs or anything like that,” he said. “I’m not even talking about people.”

Police say more than 15 bullets hit the house around 2 a.m. The family said that at the time of the shooting, there were five people in the home, including a 6-month-old baby. No arrests have been made.

“That’s what guns do when they’re not in the right hands of the right people,” said Dominic Hardy, Joshua’s mother.

They said although the road to recovery would be long, they were grateful no one was more seriously injured.

“I’m happy to say my kids are still here today,” Hardy said.