Lubbock Police continue their search for the suspect behind the shooting at a Fourth of July house party that left 18-year-old Ezekial Gonzales dead.
Now, his parents are left without their son, and his siblings have lost a brother.
Balloons, photos and memories are now left at the corner of 48th and Avenue U, just feet away from where shots where fired late Tuesday night. When officers arrived to the scene, Gonzales had suffered from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Gonzales’ mother, Irma Rios, says that when she first heard the news that her son had been shot, she prayed that it was all just a dream she would soon wake up from. A couple of days later, she shares she never anticipated that this would have become her reality.
“He’s always going to be in our hearts and our mind. We just want justice for our son,” said Rios. “He was always real friendly and just always had a pretty smile, he loved everybody. He had all kinds of friends.”
Ruben Gonzales, Zeke’s father, shared that although his family is grieving, that they forgive their son’s killer and hope that the suspect finds the courage to turn themselves in.
“I want closure, we just want closure. I forgive the boy who did it, I just want him to do the right thing, for my son’s sake,” said Gonzales. “It doesn’t make sense. He [the suspect] didn’t think what he was going to put us through, put his [Zeke’s] little sister and little brother through. And I know his parents are taking it hard too from what he did, I wouldn’t put that on anyone.”
Rios and Gonzales said that though their son thought himself as independent, that he loved making others laugh and smile, especially his younger siblings.
“He loved them, he would always make them laugh and play with them,” said Rios. “They’re hanging there, but it’s pretty hard. They haven’t really taken it in yet.”
Gonzales’ older sister, Briana Ovalle, says that her young son looked up to his uncle.
“He [Ovalle’s son] was like, ‘where’s Zeke? Where’s Zeke?’ I just told him he’s gone,” said Ovalle. “He says, ‘but he’s not gone forever, Mom, he’s coming back.’ How do you look at a four-year-old and tell him Zeke is never coming home?”
“It’s been really hard, but Zeke didn’t care who you were, he was going to make a smile out you,” said his other sister, Elisa Ovalle. “Zeke trusted people.”
A close family friend, Kiyarra Flores, shared that Zeke would often come by her work place to see how she was doing and say hi.
“When he’d pop up, it would be my roughest day, and then he’d pop up and make me laugh, make me smile” said Flores who said Zeke had texted her on the day of the shooting asking what her plans were and that he would see her later.
“I was waiting for that text back to say he was on his way, but I never got that text.”
