Wesley Welling’s mom reveals his last words before his death
A California boy who was killed in front of his sister when a crazed driver plowed his car into a group of students died on the birthday of his mother — who is now recalling how her last words to him were, “I’m proud of you. I love you.”
Wesley Welling’s mom, Kelly, said she received the gut-wrenching news about her son’s death from her daughter, Hannah, who was just a few feet away when the 15-year-old was mowed down by a driver in Thousand Oaks on Tuesday.
“I get the call from my daughter Hannah. There was an accident and he was unconscious and they were doing CPR and they did CPR the whole way to the hospital,” Welling said, ABC7 reported.
“That is where he passed. By some miracle, my daughter wasn’t standing right next to him because it could have been both of them,” she said.
Wesley and his sister were waiting for the bus with other Westlake High School students when Austin Eis, 24, allegedly plowed his car into them intentionally.
Eis, whom authorities said is homeless, had allegedly gone on a rampage earlier at a Walmart in Simi Valley, where police said he attacked two employees, one of whom was stabbed.
Welsey’s sister said she heard the Toyota Camry skidding, “and like everything happened so fast,” according to the Ventura County Star.
“I’m just concerned about his sister because she witnessed the accident,” her mom said.
“I just can’t believe it’s real.
“I’m expecting him to walk down the stairs and still hear his voice.”
The grieving mom recalled the final words to her son on the tragic day, which was also her birthday.
“I said, ‘I’m proud of you. I love you. Have a good day,’ and that was the last thing I said to him,” Welling said.
She added that she is now planning her son’s funeral after her own sister just died last week, NBC Los Angeles reported.
On Wednesday, Welling went with Hannah and her other son, Cody, to the crash scene, where a memorial of flowers and messages grew in front of the school.
“Everybody loved him. I’m finding out how many more people loved him than I already knew about from this whole thing,” she told reporters.
One of Wesley’s pals, 14-year-old freshman Christian Morales, said his mother picked him up from the site after the crash.
“I was unsure of what happened. I thought it was just an accident,” he said, adding that he only found out later that his friend had died.
“He was a very kind, smart person. He was always looking out for others, putting people before him,” Christian said.
“He never caused any harm to anyone.
“He was always just calm, playful.”
Three of Wesley’s classmates were hospitalized with various injuries after the incident.
Olivia Ludwig told ABC7 that her friend was among the injured.
“Her femur is broken and she had surgery last night to repair it,” she said.
“She’s up now, and she’s OK, but there’s a chance that she’s going to be in a wheelchair for eight weeks.
“She has so much, so much going for her, and I’m just really upset to have to see that all go down the drain because of this,” Olivia added.
Meanwhile, additional details have been released about the suspect’s crime spree, which began at a Walmart on West Cochran Street in Simi Valley, some 13 miles away.
The Westlake High graduate allegedly pepper sprayed and stabbed a store employee several times with a large knife, KTLA reported.
Eis then allegedly attacked another employee and tried to drag her away, witnesses told police, according to the outlet.
He then lunged at other Walmart workers with the knife and sped off in the car, which he drove to his parents’ home in Camarillo, officials said.
The suspect allegedly entered the home while brandishing a firearm and an argument ensued before he drove off again toward Thousand Oaks.
Eis was due in court Thursday and faces multiple felony charges, including murder, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and attempted kidnapping.
His bail has been set at $5 million.
The stabbed employee is hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
The female worker he allegedly tried to drag away was treated at the scene and released, KTLA reported.
On Wednesday evening, a prayer vigil was held at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, where dozens of people gathered to mourn, including teachers, parents and students.
Students Malia Smith and Natalie Weston said the entire community has united amid the grief.