"I heard four gunshots": Woman describes traumatic phone call during Wayne Street shooting - week.com

Peoria, Ill. (WEEK) - A 34-year-old is still in the hospital after he was shot four times in the leg early Sunday morning in Peoria. 25 News talked to a woman who was on the phone with the victim and says she can't stop thinking about how it happened.

Mattika Brock says she couldn't sleep Sunday night because she couldn't get the sound of gunshots out of her head. She says this shooting hit too close to home.

"I've never been in a situation where I ever heard something on the phone or seen somebody do something," Brock said. "I stay away from those types of situations, but yet it came to me."

A phone call with a friend quickly turned into a traumatic experience for Brock around 2:15 am. She says Andre Griffin was walking on the 700 block of Wayne Street, just a couple blocks away from OSF St. Francis. That's when a car screeched to a stop next to Griffin. Brock says she heard Griffin say "you almost hit me." Then, Brock heard four pops on the other line. Police say it was four gunshots aimed at Griffin's leg.

"I instantly dropped the phone and just started walking around in circles. I was like oh my God. All I can do for him right now is just call for help, but when I called police somebody had already called," said Brock said.

Brock says she is glad Griffin is recovering, but is still uneasy that this happened in her downtown neighborhood. She says Peoria's violence has to be stopped at home.

"You're not born to hate. Hate is taught and violence is taught. When we're newborn babies, we don't know what violence is. We don't know what hate is. We don't know what racism is. This has to be instilled," Brock said.

Griffin has several broken bones in his leg. Peoria police are still looking for the suspect who reportedly drove a blue car. If you know anything about the case, call (309) 673-4521.

2019-12-10 00:44:51Z
https://week.com/2019/12/09/i-heard-four-gunshots-woman-describes-traumatic-phone-call-during-wayne-street-shooting/