Fil-Am teen in California blind in one eye after being shot in a 'hate crime' incident, says family
A 19-year-old Filipina-American is now blind in one eye after being shot in a drive-by shooting incident in California that her family says is a hate crime.
Jessica Dimalanta was onboard a vehicle with four other friends when suspects fired at them during an intersection stop.
Another friend was hit while the three others were not injured in the March 21 incident.
Investigation is still ongoing regarding the incident, but on the GoFundMe page set up by Dimalanta’s uncle, he described her niece as a victim of a hate crime.
“Fortunately, Jessica is alive,” her uncle Dexter Martin wrote on the fundraising page.
During her hospital stay, doctors also discovered other conditions.
“Though she lays in her hospital bed distraught, in pain, suffering emotionally, physically, and mentally from this situation, she recently found out she has diabetes and while in the care she was also tested positive with COVID,” Martin wrote.
The GoFundMe page has so far raised $63,775, far exceeding the $10,000 goal.
“Jessica will need medical care, is afraid for her life, and does not want to go outside because she fears something else is happening to her. She will require physical and mental therapy in the future,” Martin said.
Dimalanta was supposed to start school this week to become a healthcare provider, but the incident has now derailed her schooling start.
She has now been discharged from the hospital and is under home quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.
Martin said that their family remains in contact with the police regarding the investigation.