A family's life has been shattered after their 11-year-old daughter was shot in the head by a stranger in a seemingly random attack in California.
A Father's Unbearable Grief
As doctors at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland battle to save her life, the girl's father has shared the heartbreaking words she spoke in the aftermath of the shooting. "She says, 'Dad, why can't I see?'" he recounted in Spanish, his voice thick with emotion. "It hurts me so much. Those are words I don't think any dad could handle." The father, who has not been named publicly due to safety concerns, described feeling numb with grief and fear, stating, "My family is everything to me. I feel like my heart is being ripped out."
The Attack and Police Investigation
The horrific incident occurred at approximately 12:40pm on Monday in the car park of the Delta View Apartments on Delta Fair Boulevard in Antioch. The girl was sitting in the front passenger seat of her father's car when, without any warning, gunfire erupted.
Investigators from the Antioch Police Department state that a bullet pierced the vehicle's rear windscreen, went through a headrest, and struck the child in the back of her head. She was rushed to hospital where she remains in a critical condition.
Police have identified the suspected gunman as Ryan Hardy, 23. Authorities used surveillance footage, witness accounts, and forensic evidence to name Hardy, who they describe as armed and dangerous. The public is urged not to approach him and to call 911 immediately with any information on his location. Police have warned that anyone assisting Hardy could face arrest as an accessory.
Family Forced to Flee for Safety
The trauma of the event has forced the family to make an impossible decision. According to a GoFundMe campaign set up by relatives, they now plan to leave Antioch permanently, abandoning their home, jobs, and community in a desperate bid for safety.
The fundraiser explains that the young girl's recovery will be long and arduous, requiring extensive medical care, therapy, and emotional healing. Doctors are currently unable to predict the extent of the function she may regain.
"This family is honest, humble, and hardworking," the campaign states. "They never imagined needing to ask for help, but they now face impossible circumstances." The campaign aims to cover relocation costs, lost income, emergency expenses, and ongoing medical needs. At the time of writing, it has raised more than $7,800.
The investigation into the shocking and apparently motiveless attack continues as a community reels and a family faces an uncertain future.
