2 boys, ages 11 and 14, shot to death outside California elementary school

[left-of-center2012]

Two boys, ages 14 and 11, died from wounds suffered when someone let loose a fusillade of gunfire on a minivan they were in at a California elementary school, police said. The double homicide occurred about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday in a parking lot of Searles Elementary School in Union City, a Bay Area town about 26 miles south of Oakland, police said.

Union City police officers rushed to the school after receiving numerous reports of gunfire. They found the two boys gravely wounded in the bullet-riddled minivan in a parking lot on the west side of the school, police said. Police released a photograph of the parking lot littered with shell casings. The older victim died at the scene, while the younger boy was taken to a hospital where he died from his wounds, police said.

"The motive behind why they were there, what lead them to that particular location and what led the suspects to come into contact, is still under investigation," Lt. Steve Mendez of the Union City Police Department told KGO. Investigators are probing whether the shooting is gang-related, according to a statement from the Union City Police Department.

John Thompson, superintendent of the New Haven Unified School District, said in a statement that neither victim attended Searles Elementary School, although one was enrolled in another school in the district.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/boys-ages-11-14-shot-death-california-elementary/story?id=67274586

Why were these kids there at 1:30 A.M. in the morning,
in a parking lot,
and where were there parents?

[2naSalit]

1. Neither was old enough to drive or have a license

Wonder what the story is there. Tragic.

[Tipperary]

2. Very good questions.

I cannot even imagine children that age being out at that time. And who was driving the minivan?

[Merlot]

3. My guess is they are homeless and living in the van with parent(s)

[meadowlander]

5. Don't know the story, obviously, but lots of gangs use kids that age to hold drugs for them

because if they get caught they won't go to jail as long.

[Bluesaph]

4. Yes. Homeless. And mother probably out

I know someone whose mom would park their car and leave him and his brothers while she went and partied or prostituted.