12-Year-Old Child Of Homeless Family Shot At Inland Empire Park

ONTARIO, CA — A GoFundMe page had raised more than $31,000 Monday afternoon for the family of a 12-year-old boy who got caught in the crossfire of two men exchanging gunfire at an Ontario park.

The child, identified on the GoFundMe page as "Jojo," was in the backseat of his parents’ vehicle at Veterans Memorial Park around 4:15 p.m. on April 4, when two men fired shots at each other, according to Ontario police Detective Michael Williams.

Jojo was an innocent bystander.

"The juvenile victim was not involved in the altercation and was struck during the exchange," Williams reported.

The boy's parents were picking their son up from an after-school program at the park located at 1341 E. D Street when the gunfire broke out, according to the GoFundMe page.

When first responders arrived at the scene, life-saving measures were performed on Jojo, and the boy was transported by ambulance to a local trauma center in critical condition. The child underwent emergency surgery before being moved to a children's trauma center for further treatment, according to Williams.

Jojo is a student in the Ontario-Montclair School District, and the community there is heartbroken, according to the GoFundMe page.

"This senseless act of violence has left Jojo in a critical but stable condition. He is currently in the hospital, surrounded by the love and strength of his family as he fights to recover and heal," the page reads. "Jojo is not only battling for his life — he and his family are also facing unimaginable challenges. They are currently experiencing homelessness. Despite their circumstances, the family has stayed together, doing everything they can to provide love, care, and support for their child during this devastating time."

During an investigation into the violence, Ontario police detectives determined that the shooting occurred when two men became involved in a verbal altercation in the park's parking lot. The argument escalated into mutual gunfire, Williams said.

The men were identified by police as Damian Marquis Berry, 25, of Victorville, and Anthony Dionte Erwing, 35, of Los Angeles.

Both were arrested and booked into county jail on suspicion of attempted murder, firing on an occupied vehicle, assault with a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The men are being held without bail and are due in court next month, jail records show.

At the time of the shooting, Berry was on Post-Release Community Supervision while Erwing was on probation in Los Angeles County, police said.

"Each has an extensive criminal history involving violent offenses," according to Williams.