12-year-old killed, 14-year-old injured in San Bernardino shooting
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- A 12-year-old boy was killed and his 14-year-old cousin injured in a shooting in San Bernardino Sunday night, police said.
The shooting occurred near Orange Street and Love Lane at about 10 p.m. and witnesses told ABC7 they heard about nine to 10 gunshots. The victims ran nearly half a block to a Circle K gas station to seek help after being shot, police said.
Twelve-year-old Jason Spears collapsed outside the gas station while his cousin, 14-year-old Terrance Spears, ran inside to get help.
Elsa Castro was standing outside the Circle K when she saw Jason collapse and went to aid him. Castro held Jason as he lay dying.
"I kept moving him and telling him to keep breathing, to not go to sleep, to stay with me," Castro recalled.
The two children were transported to St. Bernadine's Medical Center, where Jason was pronounced dead. Terrance was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
On Monday, family and friends gathered to mourn the loss of Jason as a makeshift memorial began to grow.
"He will never grow up. He will never graduate from school and he will never have kids," Shaunte Spears, Terrance's mother and Jason's aunt said while fighting back tears. "They stopped, pulled out a gun and fired on them. They don't know them, they just stopped the car and shot three innocent kids."
San Bernardino police said they were investigating whether the shooting was gang related.
"We have had some problems in this area with some local street gang activity. Whether that played a factor in this, I don't know," Lt. Rich Lawhead with the San Bernardino Police Department said.
Emotions ran high in the neighborhood following the shooting. Angry neighbors said the number of shootings on their street have made it unsafe to walk around.
"It just makes me mad because whoever is doing the shooting is a big, worthless chicken. Of course, you're going to win. If you have a gun, you're going to win," San Bernardino resident Terri Macey said.
Martha Martinez said her son and the 14-year-old victim are friends and that she would normally drive him to school in the morning.
"I feel sad, it hurts," she said.
A vigil was held for Jason Monday evening in San Bernardino. Family, friends and community members gathered to remember Jason's life and to call for an end to violence.
A description of the suspect or suspects was not immediately available. The suspect's vehicle was described as a full-size black SUV. Investigators are viewing surveillance video in the area to help with the case.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Det. Tello at (909) 384-5747 or Sgt. Kokesh at (909) 384-5615.
