(Image: 10news)
The family of Elijah Smith, a 12-year-old boy tragically killed during a San Diego house party, is pleading with the public to help identify his killer and bring them to justice. Late Friday night, National City police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting at a crowded house party. When officers arrived, they found over 100 teens and young adults at the scene.
Amid the chaos, the shooter—or shooters—had already fled, leaving five people shot, including Elijah, who succumbed to his injuries. Elijah’s mother, Sofia Alvarez Smith, and sister, Oakley, are devastated by his loss and are demanding justice for him and the other victims. Speaking to 10news.com, Sofia expressed her heartbreak, saying, “It’s not fair that I have to bury my 12-year-old son because some people think it’s so easy to grab a gun and shoot somebody. It’s not right.”
Sofia was out of town that evening, leaving Elijah in the care of his older sister. “We said bye to each other,” she recalled. “I said, ‘Be good. Stay home.’ He was supposed to be home.” Tragically, Elijah snuck out to attend the party without telling anyone, and his family still doesn’t know who he was with that night.
According to Oakley, Elijah was an innocent bystander caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fighting back tears, she described her brother as a loving soul. “He’s just an innocent soul—beautiful, happy, loving, and cared about everybody. Biggest heart in the world. He doesn’t need to be remembered for this day. We want him to be remembered for everything he truly was.”
To honor Elijah, Oakley has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover his funeral expenses, scheduled for December 7, and to support the grieving family during this difficult time. The police, still without a suspect or a description, believe the shooting stemmed from a fight between two groups. They urge anyone with information, videos, or details, no matter how small, to come forward.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 619-336-4482 or 619-335-4465. As the family mourns the loss of their beloved Elijah, they remain hopeful that justice will be served, ensuring that his memory is honored and his death is not in vain.
