California 17-Year-Old Killed While Courageously Defending Man at House Party
(Image: CBS)
The family of a California teenager fatally shot during a house party is urging the suspect to step forward and take responsibility. On Saturday night, officers from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of gunfire on E. Whitehouse Road, east of Stockton. Upon arrival, they discovered a 17-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was transported to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries, authorities said in a news release. Witnesses told detectives the shooting occurred during a large house party, but the exact events leading up to the tragedy remain unclear. Police believe several individuals were involved in the incident, though no suspect descriptions have been released, reports Fox8live.
While authorities have not officially identified the victim, his family confirmed to CBS Sacramento that the teen was Donyé Teal. According to his father, Vail Teal, Donyé was killed while defending his cousin’s boyfriend, who was being targeted during an argument.
“We’re talking about a child. We’re talking about a senseless argument he wasn’t involved in,” Vail Teal said. He appealed to the suspect, urging them to take accountability. “Pay your consequences for your crime, and then spend that time to better yourself, to figure out who you are, what led to this, and what you can do to help out the community in the future.”
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the incident and has asked anyone with information to come forward. Detectives hope witnesses will provide details that could bring justice to the Teal family and shed light on the events leading to Donyé’s death.
This tragedy has left a family mourning the loss of a young life cut short and a community searching for answers. As Vail Teal emphasized, the need for accountability is not just about justice for his son but also about preventing similar senseless acts in the future.
