A well-known ice cream vendor in Stockton, known as El Chilango, is recovering from a gunshot wound.
Bernardo Perez, 48, has become a fixture in the Downtown Stockton area where he has sold flavored slushes from a bicycle cart for 15 years.
On July 20 around 2 p.m. at Stockton's Constitution Park, two teens approached him in with hoodies tied tight around their faces to conceal their identities. Perez sensed it wasn't good. He was right.
“By instinct I pulled a knife I carry, a potato peeler to peel fruit. As soon as I picked up the knife they started shooting at me," Perez said.
As he ran backwards to avoid gunfire at nearly pointblank range, Perez says about 10 rounds were fired. One struck him in the shoulder. So, now he can’t steer the bike he uses to sell his food and slushes.
That's where Sammy Vasquez, owner of Stockton's Black Rose Tattoo Parlor, comes in. A longtime customer of Perez, he is collecting donations for El Chilango at his shop on East Miner.
Perez sends the money he makes back to Mexico to support his wife and family.
Donations can be made at the Black Rose Tattoo Shop at 237 E. Miner in Downtown Stockton, their phone number is 209-451-4616.
Continue the conversation with Kurt on Facebook.