Urgent Plea for Blood After Deadly Gardenia Shooting

Police are still investigating a deadly Sunday night shooting in Gardenia Village that claimed the life of a teenager and left another fighting for his life. Fifteen year old Rackeem Armstrong was killed, while his cousin, eighteen year old Justin Young, was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries after a lone gunman opened fire on a family barbecue around eight p.m. Witnesses say the attack came without warning, sending relatives scrambling for cover. Young’s mother, Kayla Young, shared her son is now comatose and in desperate need of blood as he prepares to undergo another surgery.

 

On the Phone: Kayla Young, Mother of Shooting Victim

“He’s in critical condition. He’s on a life support machine in a coma because the whole gallbladder and the bowel was ripped up because of the bullet would enter from his buttocks, no? They tell me that it is a slim chance and they’re not promising. They not promising me nothing. So right now it just have me and my whole entire family on our knees di pray because my son whole life already ruined. Even if he survive, they already told me he have to use the bag and that’s just the latest, but he eena wah coma, critical at the KHMH.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Is he set to undergo another surgery?”

 

On the Phone: Kayla Young

“Yes he will be undergoing another surgery tomorrow morning. And after Wednesday, they will know more or less if he will be able to function without the life support. So I would just like to ask for prayers. That’s what I need the most right now at this moment, and I di try and be the strongest I could just to hear that Justin no die. Right now we need help for blood because the doctors already told me he wa need blood. They already used up a lot of blood on him because the pressure mi di drop. His pressure dropped because he lose blood. So I need blood. At this moment I just need blood and prayers. If anybody who could help me assist in and donate blood for my son would be really appreciative.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Do you know what type blood?”

 

On the Phone: Kayla Young

“O positive.”

 

Police have yet to make any arrests or identify suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing. Interested donors can contact Young at 655-2480.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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