16 years old, president of his class - gunned down in his front yard while his siblings watched

[proud2BlibKansan]

UPDATE | 06-01-2010

The victim has been identified as 16-year-old Juan C. Garcia of Kansas City, Missouri. There are no suspects in custody and anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at [phone].

ORIGINAL POST | 05-31-2010

A teenager was shot and killed Monday afternoon in east Kansas City.

Darin Snapp with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department said officers were called around 3:20 p.m. to a home in the 1500 block of Belmont on a report of a shooting.

When officers arrived, they found a man in his late teens with no signs of live. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/crime/one-person-dies-in-east-kansas-city-shooting

"He was good in the school," Garcia (his father) said. "Very nice boy."

Garcia said his eldest was student body president at his high school, played football, and at just 16, was set to graduate this summer, all while filling in for his parents when they were at work.

"He make my dinner every day," Garcia said. "He take care of my other two kids."

Garcia said the other two children, one a girl only 4-years-old, were both in the yard watching when the shooting occurred. http://www.kctv5.com/news/23749338/detail.html

[Berry Cool]

1. There are no words

other than to say describing a 16-year-old as "a man in his late teens" seems strange.

Otherwise, just horrible.

[sandnsea]

2. 16 is "a man in his late teens"???

I've always seen a 16 year old described as a boy, or perhaps a young man. Is this normal reporting for cities? Do they report this way to justify sending these "men" to adult prison??

Tragedy in any event.

[givemebackmycountry]

3. Proud - such a sad story.

I understand that the homicide rate has increased since I left in '08.
I read the Pitch and the Star from time to time, but mostly I read KC blogs and of course I have friends on the ground.

A four year old had to see this.
Shit...

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Yes homicide rate has gone up. Sadly.

It used to be that once every couple years I knew a family affected by homicide. Now much more often. This one is especially sad. Only two blocks from my school.

When we teachers are defensive here on DU it is because of tragedies like this that impact the kids we care so much about. Until we address these issues as a society we will be fighting a losing battle in our urban public schools.

[Itchinjim]

4. If only the 4 year old girl had a gun of her own..........

[Demobrat]

5. It's his own fault for being unarmed and unable to protect himself.

What is a 16 year old doing walking around in broad daylight without a firearm?

[regnaD kciN]

8. Don't go over to the Guns Forum...

...or you'll probably get that same opinion, totally serious.

[Demobrat]

13. I've been there.

Believe me, the thought would never have crossed my mind if I hadn't read it there, many times, as serious as a heart attack. There are people there who actually think like that.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. What a waste..........gunned down for nothing.

What a sick society we've become.

[regnaD kciN]

9. See how long it takes for the right-wingers...

...to declare that he must have been involved in gangs. And was probably an "illegal," to boot. :puke:

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. And by all accounts he was a good kid

Not involved in gangs.

[Starry Messenger]

11. Utterly heartbreaking.

:(

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. And we try so hard to give our kids a good education.

This young man's brother is a student in my school. Nice family. My heart just aches for them.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

14. WOW!

This isnt a blonde haired blue eyed girl! Amazing it made news!

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Update

The video is just heartbreaking.

Carlos Garcia says that he moved his family to Kansas City 10 years ago to escape violence in his native Mexico. But now he and his family and others in the community are mourning after Garcia's 16-year-old son Juan was shot and killed in front of the family's east side home on Monday.

Family and friends say that Juan Garcia had a bright future in front of him. Garcia was president of his class at East High School and a member of the National Honor Society, and his parents say that he wanted to be a doctor to help people. But those dreams were shattered earlier this week when someone shot and killed him in front of his two younger siblings.

"We were looking for better opportunity for my kids, better life," said Carlos Garcia. "We were working hard, we no like problems."

Carlos Garcia says that trouble found his son on Monday, when a gold Dodge Caravan pulled up in front of his Belmont Avenue home, and two young men with guns argued with his son before shooting him in the stomach, chest and head. He says that his son was shot in front of his 12-year-old brother and 3-year-old sister.

"The last moment when the guy was still with the gun in his hand, (Juan) said go inside the house brother take the baby inside the house and the other guy still shot him," said Carlos Garcia, who says that it feels like his whole life is ruined. He's hoping who ever is responsible for his son's murder is arrested.

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-juan-garcia-murder-vigil-060210,0,7201039.story

[mbperrin]

16. There are days when the heart just goes out of you.

Another waste of life.



Terrible. And too common.