The shooting that took place in a park in north Charlotte back in November has claimed the life of a second victim. Sunday was the day that Dominic Salazar, 18, who was later identified as the second victim, took his own life. On the evening of the shooting, Damien Gonzalez, who was 17 years old, passed away. He was the first victim. At approximately 7 o’clock in the evening on November 15th, a shooting took place at Fred Alexander Park, which is located on Griers Grove Road. Gonzalez was discovered to be suffering from a gunshot wound when Medic arrived at the scene. It was determined that he had passed away at the scene.
After the incident, Ronald Christenbury, Damien Gonzalez’s grandfather, said, “Can’t hardly process it.” Damien Gonzalez was the victim of the shooting. At the scene, Salazar was discovered in a critical condition and was immediately taken to the hospital. According to the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (CMPD), Major Jackie Bryley, “the heart drops, and it is extremely frustrating that our young people are resorting to violence to solve any type of conflict or disagreement.”
Christenbury explained that those responsible were simply “people out here trying to make a name for themselves” by taking the lives of innocent people for no apparent reason. Jackie Lewis, recalling the distressing events of the past, said on Wednesday that there hasn’t been a homicide in the area for more than a year, and the victim of the most recent homicide was her grandson. Both Lewis’ grandson and son have had prior experience as victims of violent acts committed with a firearm. She channeled her suffering into a sense of purpose by forming the band ‘Angels of No Mercy’ in an effort to bring about social transformation. Lewis made the statement that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” and that “we got to be more responsible and hold our people and our courts accountable.”