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Driver injured after car hit by bullet in Boynton Beach

Splintered glass cuts woman's face, arm
Posted at 11:44 AM, Aug 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-10 05:50:22-04

A Palm Beach County woman was injured after a bullet hit her car at a Boynton Beach intersection Monday night.

The driver, Nia Lewis, 19, was driving her Honda Accord at the corner of Northeast First Court and Northeast 16th Avenue around 10:45 p.m. when she heard shots being fired in her direction.

According to Boynton Beach police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater, a single bullet hit the car's windshield and narrowly missed Lewis' head.

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After hitting the windshield, the bullet went through it and hit the driver’s side window frame next to her head. The impact of the bullet caused splintering glass to cut the woman's face and left upper arm.

Police said Lewis continued driving and stopped when she saw officers at an EZ Mart located at 1005 N. Seacrest Blvd.

She was treated for minor injuries at the scene by Boynton Beach Fire Rescue.

Nicole Wing lives near where the shooting happened.

"We just pretty much try to stay away from the windows and pray that nothing comes through our house," she said.

She's lived in the neighborhood for at least thirty years, and says it got dangerous within the last decade.

"I'm just hoping the police can get a handle on it and make this place safer," Wing said.

Officers later responded to Northeast First Court and Northeast 16th Avenue and found 10 to 15 spent shell casings in front of a home located at 201 N.E. 16th Ave.

Police said the residents of the house were uncooperative, and refused to come to the front door to speak with officers.

"I think it's sad that you can't drive your car down the street without having to worry about something hitting you," Wing said, in response to Monday night's shooting.

The incident occurred only days after a 17-year-old boy was shot in the stomach and arm at the same intersection.

Police say they're adding additional patrols to the area and are enforcing other techniques to curb violence in this neighborhood