South Jersey Mother of Five Fatally Shot in Convenience Store Parking Lot; Boyfriend Injured

A mother of five has died and another guy is recovering after being shot in the parking lot of a South Jersey convenience store.

The victims’ families reported the shooting occurred at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in a parking lot on East Greene Street in Millville, Cumberland County.

Neighbors reported hearing at least four gunshots.

Bonnie Hitchens, 41, was on her way to the store when she was fatally shot, according to her relatives.

Her daughter, who requested anonymity, stated that her mother was the last person who deserved to be shot.

“My mom didn’t deserve this,” Hitchens’ daughter told Action News. “She wasn’t a bad person. “She was not a bad person at all.”

A 31-year-old man who was with Hitchens at the time was also shot during the gunshots.

According to the man’s relatives, he was Hitchens’ longtime boyfriend.

According to Action News, he was struck at least three times but survived his injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around all of this,” said the man’s sister, Shardinae Wise. “I’m trying to figure out exactly why this happened.”

Wise stated that her brother, who was listed in stable condition, was similarly struggling to grasp how such a sad event had become his reality.

“It’s unreal for him right now and he keeps breaking down,” Wise told me.

Two of Hitchens’ surviving daughters told Action News that while they were grieving their mother’s death, they wanted to remember her as someone who provided for her children and knew how to make people happy.

“She always brought a light. Anybody sad may have the happiest day ever,” the family claimed.

Action News contacted Cumberland County authorities for more information on the situation. No other information has been supplied so far.

Anyone with information on the shooting should call the police.

Reference: Mother of 5 killed, man injured after shooting in South Jersey store parking lot