It was a rainy day, but on another day 5-year-old Jaylon Johnson-Floyd would have been playing outside in his front yard, said his neighbor, Barbara Paillett.

Yesterday, his mother's apartment in Northview Heights stood empty, and a basketball lay on the wet concrete. Hours earlier, Jaylon was shot to death while he slept on the love seat in the living room of his home.

A person entered the apartment at 178 Penfort St. early yesterday and began shooting, killing Jaylon and critically wounding an 18-year-old man, investigators said. The person with the gun fled and has not been arrested.

Police were summoned at 4:57 a.m., Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki said. The first officers on the scene attempted to revive Jaylon, who was shot in the chest. He was pronounced dead at Allegheny General Hospital.

Investigators did not identify the other shooting victim, who was wounded in both legs. He also was taken to AGH, where he was in critical condition.

Ms. Paillett said she did not know the identity of the man who was shot, or what he was doing in the apartment. Police said he was a visitor but would not comment on his relationship to Jaylon's family or a possible motive for the shooting.

Neighbors described Jaylon as a nice little boy who was excited about riding the bus to school. He started attending kindergarten this year at Allegheny Traditional Academy on Arch Street.

Ms. Paillett said her 6-year-old daughter frequently played with Jaylon, who would have been 6 years old in a few weeks. He was like a part of her family, she said.

"At Christmastime, he got gifts," she said.

Jaylon's mother, who could not be reached yesterday, kept a close eye on him, Ms. Paillett said. But crime and violence are a part of life in their neighborhood, she said.

"A 5-year-old boy had to lose his life, and that's a tragedy," Ms. Paillet said. "When is it going to stop?"

Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call homicide detectives at 412-323-7161. Callers can remain anonymous.

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