In a heart-wrenching incident, 5-year-old King Gammage of Stockton, accustomed to the laughter of the football field, now finds himself relying on a walker after an unfortunate encounter with gun violence. On December 16, while shopping with his father near California and Park Streets at 7:48 p.m., King was struck by a bullet, altering the course of his young life.
The incident left two others hospitalized—a 24-year-old man and a 30-year-old man—who survived the ordeal. However, the Stockton Police Department reports a lack of suspect information, adding an element of uncertainty to the investigation.
King's mother, Aakielah Johnson, bravely shares their story, emphasizing the urgent need for the community to unite against the escalating issue of gun violence. "It just kind of makes me worry why isn’t this place secure for a 5-year-old," Johnson expressed. "Why is it getting more and more dangerous that it’s hitting children younger, and younger and younger?”
The Gammage family is now faced with the daunting challenges of King's treatments and recovery, hoping that the community's support and donations will ease the financial burden on their journey ahead. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of gun violence, prompting a call for collective efforts to create a safer environment for children.
As the community rallies around King Gammage, there is a shared hope that the incident will not only prompt justice for the victims but also ignite a collective commitment to end gun violence and ensure the safety of the youngest members of Stockton.