Investigators are sifting through conflicting stories as they work to find out who shot a 9-year-old at a Tuscaloosa housing complex Monday night.

The 9-year-old was recovering at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham on Tuesday with injuries that were not life-threatening. He was struck by bullets fired as he fled Hay Court with his cousin, 17, on Monday night.

The cousins were hanging around the basketball court around 9 p.m. when a 26-year-old approached, said Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit commander Sgt. Dale Phillips. The 26-year-old mentioned a dispute between his brother and the 17-year-old, Phillips said.

“At some point, the 17-year-old thought that the situation was going to get dangerous, so he turned and ran,” he said. “The 9-year-old followed, and as they ran, shots were fired.”

The boy was struck on his left arm and lower left side.

Investigators spoke with everyone involved and some bystanders on Monday night and Tuesday.

“The stories don’t match up. Someone isn’t telling the truth. I don’t know who yet, but we’re going to find out today,” he said. “It’s a tragedy when anyone gets shot, but when its a 9-year-old child, that is something that’s going to be dealt with very aggressively.”

The boy lives in Birmingham, but is spending some time this summer with his aunt who lives in nearby Creekwood Apartments, Phillips said.