Family of 18-year-old killed in shooting at high school graduation party continues to seek justice
"We're broken. We miss him. And we just want justice," said Misty Pickton, mother of Mattew Herver, an 18-year-old killed in a shooting back in July.
It’s an absence that can never be replaced, the family members of 18-year-old Matthew Hervey recall what they loved most about him
"He was just full of life. Very full life ... he loved music, loved dancing. That was his passion was music," Pickton said.
A high school graduation party off of Napoli Street back in July is now at the center of an ongoing investigation.
"It's hard to believe that it's going to be going on three months in a few days," said Beatrice Santini, Matthew’s close family friend.
When Matthew's mother got word of her son's shooting on the night of the party, she traveled from local hospitals to the scene in search of her son.
"Hundreds of kids. And it was chaos, Kids running everywhere. I mean, when I showed up There was kids running everywhere. It was just a mess," Pickton said.
Her fears were confirmed by investigators, her son had been killed. And now she continues to wait for answers, hoping that one person out of the sea of hundreds that were there that night share some sort of information.
"We need more people to come forward. I know there was hundreds of kids with phones out videotaping, recording, taking pictures," Pickton said.
"Just anything, sometimes it's things that people don't think are important, and it could be the smallest most incidental thing. And it could mean a lot. So it's very hard. It's just disheartening," Santini said.
Surveillance video from neighbors also captured the aftermath of the shooting while teens fled for safety.
"They're teenagers predominantly. I'm very young, so I'm sure so there's a fear factor," said So try not to be afraid. Think of your family members, if it was your brother or sister or sibling, you know your son or daughter," Santini said.
When asked about the investigation, a spokesperson for the Indio Police Department shared a statement with News Channel 3.
“We want closure as much as the family does. We need the public’s help, specifically those that attended the party, or know of the party or have any information from the night of the incident.”
The family and police want to reiterate that witnesses can share information anonymously thought Valley CrimeStoppers by calling 760-341-STOP.
