Two Stockton Teens Shot When Caught In Crossfire
STOCKTON (CBS13) — A shooting in a Stockton neighborhood injured two innocent bystanders who were helping a relative move and got caught in the crossfire.
Relatives say the girl was shot in the hip and a bullet pierced her brother's arm during the gun battle Tuesday night. Moments later officers arrived and cuffed the suspects.
Renata Martinez says her young niece, 13, and nephew, 18, were helping a relative load a moving van when shots rang out.
"I saw my nephew on the floor and was like 'no, no, no' because I didn't know where he was shot," she told CBS13's Andrea Menniti.
"He was crying 'mom don't let me die, don't let me die,'" she said. "Poor kids. Why do they have to suffer because of two teenagers trying to rob somebody?"
Police say 18-year-old Emilio Suchil and his older sister Elsa were trying to rob a man at gunpoint and force him inside the trunk of a car.
Investigators say the man broke free, ran inside, grabbed his gun and shot at the pair of robbers.
That's when police say the duo fired back. Someone's bullet hit the innocent victims who happened to be outside during the gun battle. It all hit too close to home for Renata. In June a gunman murdered her 17-year-old son Juan just a few blocks from Tuesday night's shooting.
"Thank God this wasn't life-threatening, but they were both on the floor and I was scared," Martinez said.
"It's like 'oh no I can't bear another loss. I just cant bear another loss.' I can't get through this one with my son. I wouldn't want my sisters to feel what Ii feel because it's terrible."
Renata's niece and nephew are expected to be OK and relatives are relieved the suspects are behind bars.
Police say it's too soon to know if the robbery victim who fought back and fired shots will face any charges.
