District Heights Drive-By Wounds 7

The ages of those hit are 12, 14, 16, 19, 20 and 21. Police said there were two 16-year-old victims.

One of them, Julian Lopez, was shot twice in the leg as he protected a 5-year-old friend, neighbors said. The younger child's mother, who identified herself only as Keisha, said her son Moody was standing in front of Julian in a small group of young people when the shooting started.

Julian was taken to Prince George's Hospital Center, Keisha said.

"[Julian] knocked him down to the ground and pushed him out of the way," Keisha said. "He is a hero. I'm going to go to the hospital right now and kiss him."

Keisha said several neighbors had been gathered outside talking and enjoying the warm weather when the shooting began. A woman who identified herself as Julian's sister but declined to give her name said she was on her way back into her apartment when she heard gunshots. Diving for cover, she fell down the stairs of her building and hurt her arm, she said.

"I heard a couple of gunshots, so I turned around and saw Julian push [Moody] out of the way. He saved the little boy's life," she said.

The woman said Julian did not know the attackers and did not think he was a target.

One resident said she was inside when the shooting began and dived to the floor. "I never go outside because of this," the woman said, adding that she hears gunshots "occasionally" in the neighborhood. "But this sounded like it was right in my building."