Teen hides for 30 hours in forest after gunman kills dad, California family says
A California father was shot and killed during an off-roading trip with his 15-year-old son, who fled the shooting and spent 30 hours hiding in the wilderness, according to his family and the police.
Ari Gershman, a doctor, was killed on July 3 while on a trip with his son Jack near Downieville, according to the family’s GoFundMe page. Jack escaped and hid in the Tahoe National Forest for 30 hours before he was rescued.
The gunman shot two other people in Sierra County that same day and they were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to a news release from the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office.
Jack called to report his father’s shooting that afternoon but told police he was lost after fleeing the area, police said. On July 4, he was found “in good health” and didn’t require any medical attention, according to the release.
Police located and tried to stop the shooting suspect, who was driving a “side-by-side off highway vehicle” but he fled on Saddleback Road. He was arrested north of Highway 49, according to the release.
More information about the suspect and any criminal charges were not immediately available after McClatchy News’ request for comment from the sheriff’s office.
The family’s GoFundMe page has raised over $184,000 to help pay for funeral costs for Gershman and medical expenses for Paige, his wife, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Gershman had two other children, a 16-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.
