NEED TO KNOW
- An 11-year-old girl was shot in the head in the parking lot of an Antioch, Calif., apartment complex on Jan. 5
- The girl’s father recalled the heartbreaking words she told him after the shooting, as she began to lose her vision
- Police have identified the shooting suspect as 23-year-old Ryan Hardy, who remains at large
A father is recalling the heartbreaking words his young daughter said after she was shot in the head.
The 11-year-old girl, whose name has not been shared publicly by authorities, was shot in the head while sitting in her family’s car in the parking lot of an Antioch, Calif., apartment complex on Jan. 5, according to the Antioch Police Department (APD).
The child was admitted to an Oakland children’s hospital, and two days later, a GoFundMe that was created on her family’s behalf said “she is able to hear loved ones and respond by moving parts of her body when spoken to, but she has lost 100% of her vision.”
Speaking anonymously with The Daily Mail, the victim’s father recalled the moments that followed the shooting, as his daughter lost her sight.
The man, who kept his identity private for safety reasons, said the young girl asked, “Dad, why can’t I see?”
The father, who described that hearing his daughter say the words was unbearable, further explained that the Jan. 5 shooting left him numb and fearful.
“It hurts me so much,” he told The Daily Mail in Spanish. “Those are words I don’t think any dad could handle.”
“I feel like my heart is being ripped out,” continued the father, who added that family “is everything” to him.
The girl’s aunt, identified as Anahi Ramirez, also spoke with The Daily Mail, telling the outlet that she is “in shock” after the incident. “I can’t believe everything that’s happened,” she said. “It’s very difficult.”
“It’s very hard to see her like that,” added Ramirez.
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Antioch police identified the shooting suspect as Ryan Hardy “through a combination of video surveillance, witness statements, and forensic evidence.”
Hardy, 23, remains at large. Police warn that he “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
The 11-year-old girl’s family — including her three siblings — is now relocating, as the suspected gunman remains at large, according to the GoFundMe.
“Because the attacker has not been apprehended, the family lives in constant fear of retaliation and no longer feels safe returning to their home in Antioch,” the fundraiser states.
Police previously said, “The family does not appear to have been the intended targets.”
As for the status of the young girl, the fundraiser states, “Her road ahead is uncertain and will require extensive medical care, therapy, and long-term emotional healing.”
The investigation into the Jan. 5 shooting is ongoing, the APD said.
Read the full article here


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