Killing Each Other, Don’t We Learn Nothing?
Local resident reminisces with Alejandro's brother.
Youth violence is always a troubling subject. There are few things in this world more dangerous than a teenager with a gun and something to prove. Last Friday Highland Park was scarred again by the double homicide of two children next to the playground at the Highland Park Recreation Center on Figueroa. Alejandro Garcia, 16, and Carlos Hernandez, 15, were shot down on the sidewalk by an unidentified Latino male wearing black shorts, after the teenagers had got into a fight with the gunman and suspected gang members (Dogtown versus Avenues?). Both boys were students at Franklin High, and were on their way home from school when they were confronted with that sickening phrase, “Where you from!?”
Adolescence is a time for learning, a time for discovering and growing, a time for falling in love, making friends and having fun, and living in a blissful less-burdened life before passing into adulthood and all that that means. Yet again, and again we see our local kids turning to violence as a viable solution to their problems. Now two kids who were, by all accounts, tremendously loved by their friends and family; two kids who could have grown up to do anything and go anywhere are dead because they weren’t from where their murderer wanted them to be from.
As stupid as this senseless violence is, there is also the stupidity in the complacency and desensitization on behalf of the community and especially the media at large. This story wasn’t even important enough to get into the newspapers, just a mention on the Los Angeles Times’ LA Now Blog. Too often gang violence gets ignored because its, well, gang violence. (It doesn’t involve you, its between them, so let’s just close the door and hope they all kill each other off.) The people involved are all someones sons, or daughters. They are our neighbors, we share these Avenues together. On that Friday afternoon, my wife asked her mother to take our daughter to that playground. Luckily, she was too tired, and decided to stay home. All it takes is one stray bullet to kill an innocent bystander.
On Friday, March 20th at 6pm there will be a prayer vigil for Alejandro “Jandrito” Garcia, and Carlos “Chato” Hernandez, outside the Arroyo Seco Library on Figueroa. There is also a fundraiser Carwash planned for Saturday in the parking lot at Avenue 54 and Figueroa Street. Another way to help with burial costs, is by making a donation to Bank of America Account #03048-72269 C/O Victor Garcia, or stop by the daily vigil on Figueroa and buy a $10 memorial shirt.
Other coverage of this story can be found here:
Los Angeles Times, L.A. Now Blog.
LA Eastside, Memorial in Highland Park.
Eastern Group Publications, expanded story en Espanol.
it is something/ I am glad that in our country illigal to have guns.
What is the LAPD doing to find the killers? It seems unlikely that a gunamn could get away – in BROAD DAYLIGHT – with hundreds of people walking around on Figueroa and driving by the scene. Something isn’t right here.
It’s crazy. People know who did it, and he’s still at large. Heck, he may have already got a new set of teardrops tattooed next to his eye. The frustratingly sick thing is, loyalty and not being a ‘Snitch’ trumps JUSTICE here.
Very sad. I grew up in Highland Park. It is a horrible existence for a young child to always have to worry about gangs and getting shot. In the late 80′s there was a big war going on between Dogtown and the Avenues I think. Lots of youngsters shot to death. Such a waste of youth.
tacosam
I like the Operation Ivy reference!
Dammm iwennt too thee rosarioo rest inn peacee dawqq!<3