The community in San Bernardino grieved Monday night and expressed outrage after a 12-year-old boy was killed and his 14-year-old cousin was injured when a shooter opened fire near a gas station on Sunday.
"It's like I'm dreaming and I want to wake up because I don't understand how, why," Shauna Zneidi said. "I'm a parent who lost my child. For what?"
Family members identified the 12-year-old victim as Jason Spears and his injured cousin as Terrance Spears. Terrence was shot in the arm and leg.
Zneidi believes that gang members shot her son in the chest for no reason.
"Because [the shooters] have no life, because they want to be gang bangers," Zneidi said. "They think they bad, why? It's senseless."
Terrence and the community attended a vigil for Jason.
"We will not lay down and cower when the enemy shows his face," a man said at the vigil.
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School leaders agreed that the deadly violence must be stopped.
"We all have an obligation, in every community to sit back and help. We can't get numb to a situation," said Ray Culberson, Director of San Bernardino Unified School District.
The shooting occurred in the 2100 block of Orange Street just before 10:30 p.m., San Bernardino Police officials confirmed.
Witnesses told investigators that the two boys were walking toward a Circle K convenience store when they were shot by occupants in a dark-colored SUV, police said. A passenger got out of the SUV and fired several rounds, a witness told NBC4.
The 12-year-old boy then ran for about 50 yards before he collapsed, authorities said. The 14-year-old victim continued running to a Circle K convenience store to ask for help.
Ashlee Spears, Terrance's sister, said she was in the store when the shooting happened.
"All I see is my brother hopping to the store next to my cousin yelling, 'I'm shot, I'm shot,'" Ashlee said. "I looked at him and I'm like, 'You are not shot,' and next thing you know he says, 'I don't want to die,' He moves his hand and blood just poured out."
Elsa Castro was in the Circle K parking lot when Jason, the 12-year-old boy, collapsed.
"I just kept moving him and telling him to keep breathing, to not go to sleep, to stay with me," said Castro, who held him until paramedics arrived. The boys were transported to a hospital where Jason was pronounced dead.
Witnesses described hearing multiple gunshots in a neighborhood that they say is plagued with gang violence.
"It's sad. From what I hear he was just going to the liquor store to get chips," a resident said.
The motive for the shooting was unknown at this time. It was not immediately clear whether the victims and attackers exchanged words before the gunfire, said San Bernardino Lt. Richard Lawhead.
Police were reviewing surveillance video and policing cameras in the area.
No arrests had been made in connection with the deadly shooting on Monday night.
"I don't understand why my 12-year-old was killed for nothing," Zneidi said. "You don't even know his name."
Beverly White and Tony Shin contributed to this article.
