GLENDALE, Arizona — Shops are reopening and people are going out to Westgate Entertainment Center just three days after police say a gunman opened fire, injuring three people.
A 30-year-old woman is at home recovering after being shot in the knee, but the two other victims, 16-year-old Destiny and 19-year-old Alfredo Jaime, are still in the hospital.
Alfredo's mom, Maggie Jaime, tells 12 News that her son and his best friend Destiny were just sitting outside Johnny Rockets waiting for a ride home when they heard the shots and were eventually struck.
"It’s hard," Maggie says. "I know he’s mad. He goes 'Why, mom? Why me?'"
His family is still coming to grips with what happened. Alfredo was shot in the chest and rushed to the ICU. Destiny's family says the gunman shattered her leg. They're in the hospital together but still not out of the woods yet. Both have surgeries ahead and the shooting is still fresh in their minds.
"He doesn’t want to go to sleep," Maggie says. "He’s like, 'Mom, I can’t go to sleep.'"
And Maggie says due to COVID-19, she hasn’t even been able to get close enough to her son to hold his hand.
"I want to be there and I can’t be there and emotionally I don’t know what to feel. I’m kind of numb," she said. "He was in pain and I literally had to hang up our FaceTime just to call the nurse to get in there."
She says their conversations and prayers are sustaining him.
"A lot of people might be like, 'Oh, prayers don’t help.' Prayers actually do help."
The alleged shooter, 20-year-old Armando JR Hernandez, is in custody after surrendering to Glendale Police Wednesday night.
"I don’t have words for him right now," Maggie said. "I could just forgive him. But I can’t forget."
Maggie says Alfredo has a titanium plate in his ribs now, but the doctors tell her he's making progress.
Both his and Destiny's families have set up Gofundme pages. You can find the Gofundme for Destiny here and for Alfredo here.
