10 months ago
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HANFORD, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Kings County parent continues to grieve astir a week aft losing her lad to a drive-by shooting during his luncheon hr successful downtown Hanford.
23-year-old Cruz Avalos was was changeable and killed successful the intersection of Lacey Boulevard and 10th Avenue connected Wednesday.
As the fishy successful her son's execution lawsuit awaits charges, Veronica Parker is hoping her heartache volition assistance others heal who person mislaid a loved 1 to weapon violence.
"I conscionable privation nary different ma to spell done this. I privation radical to talk out. If they cognize thing to accidental thing due to the fact that nary ma should ever spell done this again," Parker said.
"As a mom, I consciousness similar I should person been determination protecting him."
Parker describes what she volition miss astir astir her son.
"I won't get the substance connection of, 'Mom, what's for dinner? I'm hungry,'" Parker said.
Parker recalls the infinitesimal she received the devastating quality from Cruz's girlfriend.
"'They're saying they changeable Cruz.' And I'm like, 'What are you talking about?' I stood up, um, I stood up retired of my table and I grabbed my keys. I near everything down and I ran retired the door," Parker recalled.
In a panic, she drove from her workplace successful Lemoore to Hanford.
"I honestly don't retrieve however I adjacent got to the hospital. The full clip determination I'm like, delight accidental it was a mistake. Like it wasn't my son. Let it beryllium a mistake," Parker explained.
She rapidly learned it was not a mistake.
"They took america into the quiescent country and they said that they tried everything that they could to prevention my baby, but they couldn't," said Parker.
On Wednesday, the Hanford Police Department announced the apprehension of a 2nd fishy successful transportation with the drive-by shooting connected October 23 aft officers mistakenly arrested a 16-year-old suspect.
"It's not perfect the information that we had initially identified different enactment who was, astatine this point, uninvolved successful our shooting. We were operating connected accusation that we had and sometimes those mistakes occur," said Hanford Police Chief Stephanie Huddleston.
Parker says she is yet gladsome that the 16-year-old was not charged successful the shooting.
"I'm blessed it's not the 16-year-old due to the fact that I consciousness that helium would person got a slap connected the manus and released successful a mates of years," Parker said.
Kings County Sheriff's Office releasing this mugshot of 19-year-old Roman Perdue of Hanford. He was booked into Kings County Jail connected Monday connected a homicide charge.
"We each conscionable privation justness for my lad due to the fact that helium didn't person to spell this way. Not astatine all," Parker said.
Parker describes what justness looks similar successful the aftermath of her son's death.
"They took a life, truthful helium needs to service his life," explained Parker.
As the victim's parent present waits what charges whitethorn beryllium filed against Perdue, she is besides present making ceremonial arrangements for her son.
For quality updates, travel Christina Lopez connected Facebook, X and Instagram.
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