Elissa Cervantes is now home after suffering from three gunshot wounds. Her father says he is grateful that his 15-year-old is alive.
Courtesy photo
Antonio Cervantes hugs his 15-year-old daughter, Elissa Cervantes, before a school dance.
Courtesy photo
By TNCPNEWS Staff
LANSING, MI — Fifteen-year-old Elissa Cervantes is home and recovering after surviving a harrowing shooting in Lansing that took place over the weekend of July 19 – 20, 2025. The incident occurred during a party on the 2500 block of Risdale Street, where police say two young men became upset when they were denied entry. One of them opened fire into the crowd.
Elissa, a high school student who is employed year-round, was struck three times—in the stomach, shoulder, and hip. Authorities do not believe she was the intended target.
Her father, Antonio Cervantes, said, “I was in shock when I found out that my daughter was shot and in the hospital. It was my worst nightmare, not knowing whether my baby girl was going to survive.”
Despite her injuries, Elissa’s resilience shone through. Antonio described her as brave and always smiling, even in the hospital. On July 24, she was released from the hospital and returned home to continue healing. Her road to recovery, however, comes with challenges beyond the physical.
Antonio was recently laid off, and the family is facing financial stress due to medical expenses and the cost of traveling to follow-up appointments, and dealing with the court system.
In response, The New Citizens Press Community Action Network Inc. (TNCPCAN) nonprofit, under the direction of Executive Director Rina Risper, began quietly supporting the family behind the scenes. TNCPCAN has been providing help to crime victims’ families since 2007 and became a nonprofit in 2012. Presently, they are collecting gift cards—particularly for gas and groceries—to ease the burden on the Cervantes family. Benefactors are already beginning to donate gift cards and groceries. Risper has encouraged those with Speedway points to consider cashing them in to help the family.
“We are not going to speak about the details of the case. That is not our place. What matters now is that a child was hurt, and we are here to support her and the family,” said Risper. “This is about helping, not judging.”
The community support stands in stark contrast to the city’s current handling of crime information. Over the same weekend that Elissa was shot, Lansing experienced five separate incidents of gun violence. Yet the city’s crime alert system has been offline since May of 2025. Without timely and accessible public crime data, residents are left in the dark.
Risper said that after attending a NAACP Mayoral forum on July 29, 2025, and complaining about the community not having access to crime data, a different site went live on or about July 30, 2025.
“I do not believe for one moment that our crime rate has gone down,” Risper said. “If you call and there is no police report, then you cannot follow up. It does not mean that the crime did not occur. We should not have to follow the scanner to get information. The new link that is active only shows data beginning in July 2025. I does not show the data from January 1, 2025, until present.”
Risper added that it is strange that the City of Lansing had to be put under a spotlight before the information,
In a separate incident, a resident near Willow and Knollwood was robbed by three teenagers. The victim, unsure whether reporting would make a difference, did not contact the police but instead turned to Risper for help. Stories like this underscore the growing disconnect between the community and official channels of support.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Josiah Cain of Lansing has been arrested in connection with Elissa’s shooting. He is charged with assault with intent to murder and other weapons-related offenses. His court date is scheduled for August 8, 2025.
As Antonio continues to deal with his daughter’s injuries, he continues to express his gratitude for the support of the community. The story of Elissa is one of survival, but it is also a story about the power of community. While official systems falter, neighbors, organizations, and strangers have stepped in to fill the void. TNCPCAN continues to accept gift card donations and encourages others to help in any way they can.
“We are focused on what is right,” said Risper. “This is about making sure a father can put gas in his car to make sure his daughter has basic needs and there is food in his refrigerator until he returns to work. This is about making sure a child knows the community cares.”
If you would like to donate a gift card or provide support, contact TNCPCAN directly at www.tncpcan.org.
