REEDLEY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Community members gathered at Redeemer’s Church in Reedley to fundraise for a man who was shot during a road rage incident in Sanger.

According to California Highway Patrol Officials, 23-year-old Devin Shane Atondo of Sanger was arrested on suspicion of shooting Angel De La Cruz.

“[Atondo] followed Angel all the way to McCall and 180 and it just so happened that [Atondo] had a gun and ended up shooting Angel in the face.” Redeemer’s Church Youth Pastor Edgar Baltazar said.

Baltazar is a friend of De La Cruz and a fellow volleyball coach at Immanuel High School.

When he first heard about the incident, Baltazar says he was initially angry. But, “as a man of faith,” he says he knew there was still hope in the situation. He says he began putting that faith into action by organizing a car wash outside of the church Saturday morning.

“Since we opened at 9 a.m.. We got cars lining up, people having come in and just donating like crazy,” Baltazar said.

He also says he’s inspired by the community’s response. According to Baltazar, the car wash raised over $1,000 for De La Cruz.

After the incident, Baltazar says De La Cruz lost his eye and was put in the hospital where De La Cruz is still unconscious.

“I pray once he wakes up, which I believe he will wake up,” Baltazar said. “He’s going to see just how much this community loves him.”

Community members who know De La Cruz, even slightly, say he is a kind and easy-going person.

Hailey Plano, who says she went to the same high school as De La Cruz, says though the two weren’t close friends, she still felt compelled to fundraise and show up to the car wash.

“I want to help out in any way that I can and just kind of do what I can do,” Plano said.

Anyone who is still interested in helping De La Cruz and his family can do so by donating to the family’s GoFundMe or visiting Immanuel High School for a fundraiser volleyball tournament in Reedley on Aug. 1.