Nine shot, one killed in hookah lounge party in San Bernardino, California

On Saturday, a shooting in San Bernardino, California injured nine people, one of whom was pronounced dead.

The incident happened just after midnight on Highland Avenue in San Bernardino, according to Sgt Thomas Aquino of the San Bernardino Police Department. During a party inside Tha Blu Flame hookah lounge, there was a quarrel.

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Inside the building, shots were fired, and the fighting spilt out into the parking lot, where more shots were fired.

Sgt Thomas Aquino added that some of the victims were minors.

Allen Gresham III, 20, was recognised as the deceased victim.

Gresham’s great aunt Pamela Brown said -“We are going to miss him very much and I just pray and hope that justice will be served for my nephew because we’re hurting now.”

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An eye-witness named Amiyah Ramos said- My heart dropped, In my head, I’m thinking, ‘I’m about to die or something. I was dancing with my homegirls, and all of a sudden, I heard shooting.

Amiyah’s grandmother, Darlene Ramos, was waiting outside to pick up Amiyah and her 12-year-old sister Leilani. Darleene revealed to be frightened while looking for her grandchildren.

She said – “I heard a pop, pop, pop.”

“When they shot three more times, a girl got shot in her head and landed on me,” said Amiyah. 

Amiyah noticed her sister Leilani shot in the leg after grabbing the girl’s body and covering herself to hide until the shooting stopped. After that, the two sisters hurried to their grandmother’s car.

Darlene added – “I’ve been at the hospital all night and the doctors said that the bullet went into her tight and it travelled down to her knee.”

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Leilani survived while still on mobility aids and with the bullet still lodged in her leg.

Some victims were taken to the hospital by ambulance, while others drove themselves. It is unknown how many people were taken to the hospital.

The suspect is not in police custody and a manhunt is underway.