I did not want to read about some kid a 1/2 mile away getting shot, living in a wheelchair, and having some pet monkey wipe his ass for him.  

Boy, 9, fatally shot in park

July 6, 2002

By CATRINE JOHANSSON
The Orange County Register


BUENA PARK – Arturo Morales brought his 9-year-old brother to Boisseranc Park on the Fourth of July to shoot off fireworks with hundreds of other people.

Little did he know that one of the bangs he heard Thursday night wasn't from an exploding pyrotechnic. It was from a gun.

And seconds later, Morales' little brother, Xavier, was collapsed on the ground, dying from a bullet in his side.

Police on Friday were investigating the Anaheim boy's death as a homicide, Sgt. Rich Peña said. Investigators have no leads in the case. The bullet, which passed through Xavier, has not been recovered.

"Judging by the damage, it looks like a small-caliber gun, like a .22," Peña said. "But we're just speculating at this point."

Arturo Morales, 17, said he and his brother were standing near the Dale Street parking lot about 9 p.m. when Xavier walked up and said his stomach hurt.

"I thought it could be food poisoning or something, but then he passed out," Morales said.

Morales shook his brother and woke him up. Xavier vomited, then passed out again.

"I lifted his shirt," Morales said. "I saw blood and a hole in his side.

"That's when I called 911."

Xavier was transported to UCI Medical Center. As surgeons tried to save his brother's life, Morales called his mother, Eduwiges "Vicky" Morales, who was visiting relatives in San Ysidro.

"I told the doctors to please do what they could to save my son," Vicky Morales said. "I told them I was driving as fast as I could (to get there)."

Xavier left surgery about midnight, and his family held vigil at his bedside.

The doctors were hopeful at first, Vicky Morales said, but at 2 a.m. they told her that Xavier had lost too much blood and had suffered severe brain damage.

"They said that even if he made it, he'd be paralyzed from the waist down," his mother said.

Xavier died at 5 a.m.

Peña said the bullet went in one side of Xavier's body, damaged his aorta and lungs, and came out the other side.

"This makes us all sick," Peña said, on behalf of his fellow officers. "Such a young child, out celebrating the birth of this nation. He died before he had begun living."

Xavier's brother, mother and aunt gathered at the 20-acre community park Friday evening. The sounds of children at play were a sad backdrop to the makeshift memorial of American flags and a wreath at the spot where Xavier collapsed.

"He was the best kid ever," Vicky Morales said, choking back tears. "He loved making people laugh."

Xavier had a hearty appetite and loved pepperoni pizza, his mother said.

"I hope somebody can help find the person who did this," his mother said. "It won't bring my son back, but at least this person can't take any more lives if he's caught."
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Quoted:
It might be kinda cool to have a pet monkey wipe your ass tho'.

Quoted:
People have got practice what they preach. Randomly shooting a bunch of bullets into the air is totally irresponsible. You're violating a cardinal rule of shooting.

Quoted:
Wanted to, but didn't. Not safe here.


Woof

Quoted:
I wanted too because my greasy mexican neighbor was popping off fireworks