(NECN: John Monahan, Boston) - A teenager shot Friday night on his way to church in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood is now in critical but stable condition, police say.
Authorities say the 13-year-old male, whose identity has not been released, was on his way to choir practice and to meet his family at the Berea Seventh Day Adventist Church in Dorchester.
"He was shot in his lower abdomen. The bullet is still lodged in there somewhere," Pastor Nigel David of the Berea Seventh Day Adventist Church said.
It was his teenaged deacon who was shot Friday night.
"This is an innocent young man walking to church from his home to meet his family and he was shot in the street," Boston Police Supt. Kevin Buckley said Friday night.
Boston police swarmed the area around the scene at Homestead Street and Humboldt Avenue in Roxbury, but found no suspects.
Saturday, his pastor held a regularly scheduled service and prayed for the teen gunned down in the city's latest act of violence.
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"It's shocking, but I'm going to be honest with you: It's the reality of the times that we live in," Pastor David said.
After a four hour surgery, Pastor David says his young deacon is now on the mend at Boston Medical Center.
"He's making a recovery, and so far he's doing well," David said.
Police say a motive is still unclear.
If you have any information regarding this shooting and wish to remain anonymous, you're asked to call Boston police's anonymous tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS. You can also text the world "TIP" to CRIME (27463).
