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Teen dies from injuries in Seattle shooting

SEATTLE — The teenager who was shot in the head in South Park neighborhood on Feb. 7 died from his injuries.

Dallas Esparza, 16, is described as a "humble, caring and gentle" person. Seattle police investigators say they are still working to figure out why he was gunned down in front of a gas station on 14th Avenue South.

Charlene Perez said up to eight masked men approached her son and fired multiple shots. The teen had just gotten off the bus and was on his way home, Perez said. The shooting happened in front of her.

"It's not fair," Perez said in tears. "I'm so sorry, Dallas, I'm so sorry my baby."

Family and friends held a candlelight vigil for Esparza on Monday in the same location where he was killed.

"I didn't just lose my son. I lost my best friend," Perez said. "There's so much violence going on, there's so much blood being shed and it doesn't have to be like that."

Investigators said the case remains active. An initial search failed to turn up a suspect. Family members want to know why the teen was targeted.

"He was just walking from the bus coming back this way to his mom and to get up getting shot that way. Once in the head, the shoulder, the leg and the foot, what's the reason? Why?" said Esparza's uncle, Danny Duran.

Perez hopes her son's death bring change that the South Park community needs.

"This was a tragic thing that happened, but I hope it brings a miracle to our communities. I hope it brings peace," she said. "The violence has to stop."

A fundraiser has been set up to help Perez with funeral expenses and medical bills: https://www.gofundme.com/community-support-for-sp-family

BREAKING: Chopper 7 is at the scene where police say there is a shooting at 14th Ave. S. and S. Trenton Street in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood. KIRO 7 will be live overhead at 7 p.m. >> kiro.tv/LiveNews

Posted by KIRO 7 News on Wednesday, February 7, 2018

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