Local

Fundraiser held for toddler injured in raid

ATLANTA — The toddler severely injured in a police raid is out of the hospital and preparing to leave the state.

Bounkahn "Bou Bou" Phonesevahn was severely injured when Cornelia Police and Habersham County deputies threw a flash-bang grenade into a house he was visiting during a SWAT raid in May.

The grenade landed in the sleeping toddler’s playpen. Doctors are not sure if he suffered brain damage but he does require several more surgeries.

A fundraiser for the toddler took place Wednesday at the Delightful Eats restaurant in southeast Atlanta.

The family heads back to Wisconsin Thursday. Even though Bou Bou is doing much better, his journey isn’t over.

Bou Bou’s mother said he won’t sleep and wakes up screaming. But she’s grateful to still have him.

“This is not a fight that we aren't even close to backing down from. Every day we have to look at our son and I’m glad to know that we do have him,” Alecia Phonesavanh said.

The money from Wednesday’s fundraiser will support his medical costs. Funds will also help the family make it back home to Wisconsin.

The GBI has opened their own investigation into the incident that injured Bou Bou.