Sister opens up about teenager killed in Indio shooting Friday night
Family have identified the teenager killed in a shooting Friday night in Indio.
Gerardo Mendez, a 16-year-old who attended Summit High School, was murdered Friday night in front of a family member’s home at the Arabian Gardens Mobile Home Park in Indio, while celebrating an aunt’s birthday, according to Mendez’s sister, Alondra Mendez.
“My little brother was already laying on the floor. The paramedics came and they told me it was too late. They couldn’t do anything about it,” Alondra said.
Read: Man dies from gunshot wounds at Arabian Gardens Mobile Home Park
“My mom, everybody was inside, while him and my cousin were outside with a few friends. They had just gotten here, they were eating,” Alondra said.
She says it was shortly after when got shots rang out, killing her brother and injuring her cousin.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise money for funeral expenses. Click here if you would like to donate.
According to the GoFundMe page, Mendez was shot in his head, throat, and body while outside his aunt’s home on his way back inside the home.
Mendez was the only son his parents had, leaving behind them and his two sisters.
As police responded to the shooting, an adult male arrived at John F. Kennedy Hospital with several gunshot wounds. According to police, that man is in serious condition. Police have not said whether these two incidents are related as they are still actively investigating both.
A suspect has not been publicly identified at this time, police continue to investigate and ask the community for any help they can provide. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact IPD (760-391-4057 ), or to remain anonymous, please contact Valley Crime Stoppers at 760-341-STOP (7867).
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