Erica Cruz was shot at the intersection of North Glenellen and Connecticut avenues in Youngstown by an owner of the car she accidentally bumped into due to difficult driving conditions. She was rushed to a hospital, where she had surgery, and the doctors saved her life. A police investigation is underway, but no arrests have been made yet.
The Shooting Was Sparked by a Fender-Bender
According to Cruz, she wanted to go to the grocery store but kept getting stuck in the snow. While attempting to free her car, she reversed and accidentally bumped into a car behind her. The furious owner ran to her demanding money, only to return seconds later with a gun. He shot her 14 times.
Cruz had covered her head with her hands, and that might have saved her life. She was in critical condition when a passerby found her. They called 911, and she was rushed to a hospital, where doctors operated on her and saved her life.
The Psychological Trauma Might Be More Difficult to Heal Than the Physical
Cruz says that the scenes from that night still haunt her. What makes this event even more tragic is the fact that Erica’s daughter Crista (17) was also a shooting victim last year. She was shot in the neck while taking a walk on the South Side and had to spend about eight months in the hospital. She and her mom were released from the hospital the same week.
The Police Are Working on the Case
The police state that they are conducting an investigation, but there are no arrests for the time being. This crime has raised some questions about the worrying gun violence statistics in Youngstown, Ohio.
