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'It's just taking a toll on everybody': After Boise teenagers were shot, a father pleads for an end of senseless violence

"We don't want any more mothers crying over their children, no more need to happen," George Heidenriech said. His son Sonny was shot in the chest last Sunday in a Boise shooting that also killed a 19-year-old woman.

BOISE, Idaho — A teenager is recovering in the hospital after being shot through the chest last Sunday.

"Knowing what he just went through and what his friends went through, the whole thing is just sad," said George Heidenriech, whose son Sonny was shot.

On April 14th, a 20-year-old Meridian man opened fire on three people at a home on the Boise Bench after a fight broke out.

19-year-old Brianna Martinez was killed. Her sister and 19-year-old Sonny were both wounded in the shooting too.

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"He was shot in the chest, through his lung, and out his back," Heidenriech said, speaking of his son Sonny.

Physically, Heidenriech says Sonny is expected to make a full recovery.

"The kid is just, he's in a lot of pain but he's up, he's talking," he said. "We got him to circle the hallways a little bit."

Emotionally though, Sonny is dealing with the loss of a friend.

"He hasn't expressed no feelings about that yet but I know deep down, when he comes out of this, that it is going to hit him hard," Heidenriech said. "It's just taking a toll on everybody. My heart goes out to the other family, you know big time. I'm thankful that my son is here and we will just keep moving forward."

Both of Sonny's parents have taken off work to be at his hospital bedside around the clock.

MORE: Boise shooting witnesses, suspects surrender in Meridian Road standoff 

"It's hard that you can't just go in there and fix everything for him and that's exactly what we want to do," Heidenriech said. "We're here as much as we can, she comes every day, I haven't left."

Seeing their son in the hospital making a painful recovery, Sonny's parents are making a plea to the community to stop the senseless violence.

"We don't want any more mothers crying over their children, no more need to happen," he said.

If you would like to contribute toward Sonny’s recovery costs, a small Go Fund Me has been created to help the family.

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