Terrance Spears (l) and Jason Spears (r)
SAN BERNARDINO — Police are still searching for a shooter that killed a 12-year-old boy and wounded a 14-year-old last weekend.
Jason Spears, 12, was killed and his cousin, Terrance Spears, 14, recovered from injuries he suffered in a Sunday night shooting. The boys had been heading for a nearby market to get a snack when they were struck down.
Shortly after 10 p.m., the boys were near the intersection of East Love Lane and North Orange Street when the shooting occurred, said San Bernardino Police spokesman Rich Lawhead. It was the city’s 15th homicide in 2016, he said.
The boys, seeking help, ran one block to a Circle K gas station at East Highland Avenue, even after being struck by the bullets. It was there that Jason Spears collapsed. He eventually died at St. Bernardine Medical Center.
Terrance Spears, who was able to reach the Circle K store to call for help, was taken to a nearby hospital. He has since been released, according to reports. The nature of his injuries was not disclosed, nor was there a motive released for the shooting.
Authorities are searching for a dark-colored SUV that was reported fleeing after the shooting took place. Police, which have not identified the number of suspects, were unable to say if the shooting was gang-related.
The area, however, has been known for criminal street gang activity. There are several apartment complexes in the area, many of them part of the city’s crime-free multi-housing (CFMH) program.
The goal is to reduce illegal activities which typically take place in multi-unit housing.
Mandated by the city, properties with four or more units must belong to CFMH. Part of the program requires tenants and property owners agree to background checks on potential renters along with keeping the areas properly maintained.
Police, which have increased patrols with over a dozen additional officers throughout the city, have made several arrests under CFMH regulations after those compliance checks.
