Make California Post a Preferred Source The heartbroken mother of a teen football player struck by stray bullet while working at Five Guys in Oxnard gave a devastating update on her son’s injuries nearly a month after the shooting.
Jonathan “JJ” Vasquez Jr., 19, was on his break at the fast-food joint on August 28 when he was shot in the spine after an altercation between a 16-year-old suspect and two other people outside the restaurant.
JJ was rushed to the ICU, and now his family said doctors told them he is not expected to walk again, NBC Los Angeles reported.
“To me, God has a plan for him. That is what we are holding to; that’s what he is holding onto every day,” his mother, Brenda Cervantes, told the outlet. “He says, ‘Mom, I have a purpose.’ Repeats it every day. Says, ‘I’m strong. I’m worthy,'”
“He is always telling me, ‘Don’t hold grudges.’ Even through this whole mess of things, he says, ‘Leave it to God.’ Anyone that meets him, he wins their hearts over,” Cervantes continued.
His mother also said that JJ had big dreams, was saving up to buy himself a truck, and wanted to pursue a career in finance.
A GoFundMe created for the 19-year-old also described the extensive damage to his spine and nerves, noting that “he is now living with complete quadriplegia, meaning he is paralyzed and cannot move his arms or his legs.”
The fundraiser has raised over $84,750 of its $90,000 goal.
JJ had just graduated high school, where he was captain of his football team. He had also started his first job while attending Ventura College and joining the Track team.
The teenager was taking a break inside the burger joint when one of the bullets came through the glass door, hitting him in the spine.
A 16-year-old suspect has been arrested, but his identity has yet to be released.
