‘Find The Killers’: Jasper Wu’s Mother Makes Desperate Plea After Toddler Killed By Stray Bullet On Highway

FREMONT, Calif. (KPIX-TV) — Fighting backmost tears, the parent of Jasper Wu, the small lad killed by a stray slug during a freeway shootout connected I-880 successful Oakland over the weekend, called connected the nationalist to assistance “find the killers.”

Jasper would person turned 2 years aged adjacent month. Instead of readying his day celebration, his mother, Cherry An, is present readying his funeral. “I don’t cognize what to say. It conscionable happened each of a sudden. I don’t adjacent cognize however to respond to this tragedy,” An said done an interpreter.

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Jasper was killed during a weapon battle connected Interstate 880 successful Oakland connected Saturday afternoon. He ne'er got to conscionable his father, who lives and works successful China. The 2 would speech by telephone utilizing FaceTime. “Jasper could admit his father, would call, ‘Daddy! Daddy!’ He was specified a bully boy. He seldom cried,” said An.

His begetter arrived from China astatine San Francisco Airport Monday night. The household says COVID traveling restrictions prevented them from seeing each other. Jasper’s parent was driving southbound connected I-880 Saturday with relatives successful a achromatic Lexus, headed to Fremont, wherever they live.

Three kids were successful the backmost seat. The household said arsenic they reached downtown Oakland, a azygous weapon changeable deed Jasper, who was successful his car seat. He was rushed to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, wherever helium died.

Jasper’s grandma talked astir her grandson and remembered his smile. “He’s specified a sunny and unfastened and progressive boy,” the boy’s grandma said.

Fremont Mayor Lily Mei delivered flowers and condolences to Jasper’s household Monday. She besides made it precise wide that this benignant of unit indispensable stop. “Such a calamity successful presumption of the nonaccomplishment of a guiltless life. We request radical to basal up and accidental this is wrong,” said Mei.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) gave a property league regarding their probe into the shooting precocious Monday afternoon. While they did not uncover immoderate specifics astir imaginable suspects, authorities did supply 1 important caller detail. “The probe led to grounds that the shots that were fired apt originated connected the northbound broadside of Interstate 880 and randomly struck the victim’s vehicle,” said CHP Capt. Mike Lehman.

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CHP did inquire that anyone who was traveling successful that country of Oakland connected I-880 Saturday day to cheque their dash camera video to spot if they mightiness person captured images related to the incident.

Lehman, successful the recorded quality league Monday astir the shooting, did not situation a reporter’s connection that determination person been 76 shootings recorded connected highways successful Oakland successful the past 12 months; but helium insisted the nationalist should consciousness harmless driving connected highways successful the city.

When pressed by the aforesaid newsman astir wherefore radical should consciousness harmless fixed the statistics, Lehman said, “The crushed you should consciousness harmless are the chances of this happening are not high.”

Jasper’s parent issued her ain heartfelt plea for justice. “I privation to telephone connected the nationalist to assistance maine find the killers,” said An. “I don’t privation specified a calamity to hap to different idiosyncratic again.”

Detectives person not released immoderate fishy accusation oregon a motive. KPIX-TV successful San Francisco learned that 1 fishy conveyance was a acheronian colour Chrysler 300. The household is asking anyone who witnessed the shooting to telephone authorities immediately.

A vigil was held connected an Oakland thoroughfare country astatine Market and 7th beneath the I-880 overpass wherever Jasper was fatally struck by the bullet. Mourners near candles, flowers, stuffed animals and candy determination successful the boy’s memory.

The Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce has acceptable up a GoFundMe campaign to assistance the family.

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As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe run had raised much than $72,000, doubling its $35,000 goal. Anyone with accusation astir the shooting is asked to delight telephone the CHP probe extremity enactment astatine (707) 917-4491.