Police are seeking an attacker who opened fire on a graduation party in Ontario over the weekend, critically injuring a 17-year-old boy who was celebrating his recent graduation from Montclair High School, authorities said.
The shooting took place just before 1 a.m. Saturday in the 100 block of West Caroline Court, the Ontario Police Department said in a written statement.
A group of friends and classmates was gathered for a party when an unidentified attacker “fired several rounds into the crowd,” the statement said.
A bullet struck the teen, who was taken to a hospital, officials said. He was listed in critical condition on Monday.
No description of the shooter has been released.
“It is still unclear if the suspect knew the victim or was a guest at the party,” according to the police statement. “The investigation has yet to identify a motive for the shooting.”
He was identified by family as Eric Morales.
A fundraising website set up by the victim’s brother had garnered more than $12,000 in donations to help with medical expenses on Monday.
Eric Morales was shot “while trying to remove an aggravated guest from a graduation party,” brother Fernando Morales wrote.
Eric recently graduated from Montclair High School on Wednesday,” according to the brother. “He had goals to make his parents proud by furthering his education at Mt. San Antonio College in the fall. Our heart burns for Eric and we ask for prayer and healing thoughts as he battles for his life.”
“My brother is someone who is full of life, radiant like the stars and embodies the spirit of love,” the brother said.
A prayer vigil was planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the cafeteria lobby of Pomona ValleyHospital Medical Center.
Investigators implored anyone with information to contact Ontario police at 909-986-6711, or Detective Joe Tirre at 909-408-1862. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to We-Tip at 800-782-7463.