Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 4-8-22

Local
Fundraiser Set For Girl, 9, Shot In Back
Last month, a 9-year-old girl was playing on the basket- ball courts at Robles Park Pub- lic Housing Complex. Suddenly a shot rang out and a bullet meant for someone else struck her in the back. The good news is she is expected to recover from her injuries. The bad news is, her mother, who was already struggling to sup- port 13 children suddenly found herself swamped in medical bills.
According to the Tampa Police Department, the inci- dent took place around 7 p.m., on March 22nd.
What began as an argu- ment between two boys ended in gunfire. The victim of the shooting was a 9-year-old girl.
According to the Tampa Police Department, shortly after 7 p.m., two boys were on the basketball courts at Robles Pond Public Housing Complex,
near E. Lake Avenue and N. Avon Avenue. At some point the boys became engaged in an argument.
During the altercation, one of the boys left the basketball court, retrieved a gun from his home, and returned.
When the teenager re- turned, witnesses told police, he fired the gun in the direc- tion of the basketball courts. A 9-year-old girl was struck in the lower back by one of the bullets.
She was transported to a local hospital and admitted. The most recent update re- leased by police was that she was in stable condition.
The teenager who report- edly fired the shots was taken into custody.
A friend of the family, Ms. Susana Matta Valdivieso, has established a gofund- mepage to help the mother,
that there are other people in this world who love her back,” Ms. Valdivieso said on the gofundme page.
She further stated, “I’ve learned from her resilience and the way she loves and cares for her 13 children, 14 if I count myself (after all the ways she has proved to be a mother fig- ure to me). She has pulled her- self out of every unfortunate situation, but this is too much
for me to just sit by and watch.”
Anyone wishing to make a donation can visit the go- fundme page at the address listed below: https://www.gofundme.co m/f/help-family-of- 9yearold-hit-by-a-stray- bullet?utm_campaign=p_ cf+share-flow- 1&utm_medium=copy_lin k&utm_source=customer.
RAYRAY
identified as, Ms. Artese, combat the mounting medical bills as well as other expenses as she stays home to care for her daughter, RayRay.
“Iwanttobeabletoprove to her that she has a commu- nity behind her that can show up for her the way she has shown up for everyone in her life in need. I want to show her
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