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16-year-old Aurora girl remembers 'everything' the night she was shot in the park

Posted at 9:07 PM, Oct 27, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-28 22:14:19-04

AURORA, Colo. -- Jade Guzman says she remembers everything the night she was shot just blocks from her home in Mission Viejo Park.

She and her friend were in the park around 9 p.m. when Guzman recalls seeing a car jump the parking lot and continued to drive toward them.

"Not only did he know he shot us, but seeing him continue shooting afterward -- there's just no point in that," Guzman said.

Guzman says both she and her friend were shot that night. The Aurora Police Department says a third person was also shot. All three were treated and released from the hospital. No arrests have been made in the shooting.

"Watching my friend just bleeding on the car, seeing my bone like sticking out of my leg, for what?" Guzman questions.

As a volleyball player at Smoky Hill High School, Guzman was looking forward to her junior year. She'll now have to sit it out. Her doctors tell her she has up to six months before she can play again.

"I just kind of get reminded that this is just like my reality for a while," she said.

Guzman seems to be more concerned about her loved ones.

"It's hard to see my mom cry," Guzman said.

Angie Rodriguez got the call from her daughter moments after it happened. She immediately ran down the street to care for her.

"You're scared, but you want to be strong for your child, and that is sort of hard to do," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez says she knows the medical bills will put their family in financial hardship. Family members of her daughter's volleyball team have chipped in to help -- an act Rodriguez is grateful for. Rodriguez, with the help of some of those volleyball parents, helped to establish a GoFundMe.

"I haven't had time to think or worry [about the cost]," Rodriguez said. "I know that it's there in the back of my mind, but I have no idea how much it's going to impact us.

This last week hasn't been easy for the 16-year-old. But it hasn't changed her infectiously positive personality.

"The bad doesn't last forever," Guzman said. "There's going to be a day when you're going to feel better."

Guzman -- who loves being around family, friends, and her teammates -- says being secluded while she recovers has been tough. Just days after being released from the hospital, she went to her team's game to cheer them on.