Woman shot while driving

From Daily Republic // April 5, 2005
By Audrey Wong

SUISUN CITY - A 18-year-old woman was shot in the neck Tuesday evening while stopped at a red light on Sunset Avenue and Pintail Drive, police said.

Suisun City police apprehended a 38-year-old Fairfield man in connection with the shooting, said Juan Camacho, spokesman for Suisun City police. They did not release the suspect's name and were still interviewing him Tuesday night.

The victim was identified by her grandparents as Lamia Goins. A helicopter flew her to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where she was listed in critical but stable condition.

Around 5:40 p.m. the victim was driving south on Sunset Avenue when she prepared to turn left onto Pintail Drive at the traffic light. A man standing on Sunset Avenue allegedly fired several rounds into the car, Camacho said. The suspect then fled.

Bullets shattered the front passenger window. Goins then drove to the Raley's shopping center near Sunset Avenue and Highway 12, where Suisun City firefighters, police and medics treated her.

Police officers found a man resembling the suspect walking around the area, Camacho said. Officers handcuffed the man and placed his hands in paper bags to preserve possible gunpowder on his hands.

The victim was driving her boyfriend's white Buick Regal. The boyfriend, Deonta King, 20, was sitting in the front passenger seat at the time of the attack.

"The next thing I know I heard the window shatter and I heard several shots," King said. "I told my girl to drive off and she said she couldn't."

Goins screamed again and King said he heard more shots. He put his hand on the accelerator and helped King drive behind a Carl's Jr. restaurant. Before they left the intersection, King said he looked to his right and didn't see any cars.

"I don't know who would do this," King said.

A bullet traveled down the back of Lamia Goins' neck and exited her shoulder, said her grandmother Shirley Goins. It didn't strike any major arteries or her wind pipe. Her granddaughter was in much pain but was still asking about family members, Shirley Goins said.

Doctors called a specialist to help her, her grandmother said. Lamia Goins is four months pregnant, King said.

Willie Holtzclaw, Lamia's grandfather, is baffled at why someone would shoot at her granddaughter. She just works and stays at home, he said.

Officers closed off part of Pintail Drive to search for bullet shells. A police dog sniffed through shrubs hunting for casings.

Detectives are investigating the motive for the shooting, Camacho said.

Anyone with information can call Detective Matt Eleopoulos at 421-7373 or 421-7362.

Reach Audrey Wong at 427-6951 or awong@dailyrepublic.net.