A 23-month-old boy has died after being shot on Interstate 880 in Oakland Saturday, family confirms to NBC Bay Area.
The California Highway Patrol's Golden Gate Division said they received a call of a freeway shooting on northbound I-880 just after 2 p.m.
According to CHP, the victims of the shooting were traveling in a white Lexus sedan on southbound I-880 near Filbert Street, when their vehicle was suddenly struck by gunfire.
CHP said that the child was shot. The boy was rushed to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, where he later died.
The victim's family shared several details about the child and what happened but did not want to speak on camera.
The family told NBC Bay Area’s Sergio Quintana that the toddler, 23-month-old Jasper Wu was in a car seat when a single stray bullet entered the vehicle and struck him in the head. His mother was driving at the time.
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The family said two other adults and two other children in the car were not injured.
Officials said that evidence that was collected on the northbound side of I-880 may indicate that the victims were not targeted.
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The northbound lanes of I-880 were reopened to traffic at 23rd Avenue just after 5 p.m.
The family is already getting support from the local Asian American community.
"I can't imagine what the family is going through, and what they have to deal with for years to come in terms of PTSD,” said Leanna Louie with United Peace Collaborative.
Some people are particularly shocked that it happened while the family was driving home.
"Their family is now changed forever. Their lives are absolutely shattered and destroyed because we haven't been able to protect our people in our city and our state at all,” said Hudson Liao of organization Asians Are Strong.
Officials are requesting assistance from the public in gathering information surrounding the fatal shooting.
Officials urged anyone with any information to contact CHP's Investigation tip line at 707-917-4491.
