Missing A Friend
Seventeen Year Old Miguel Romero Should Not be Dead
By: Jessica Valadez

On the night of January 3rd, 2004, shortly after 11pm, gunfire broke out at a local Jack In The Box on Tully Road in East San Jose. The shooting left two teenage boys dead. The teenagers were confirmed to be Diego Gutierrez and Miguel Romero -- both 17 years old of San Jose. These two young lives were lost due to the ever-growing problem of gang violence.

I write this piece because I am a friend of Miguel's. I want people to know what a loving person he was, and to make people aware that gang violence needs to stop. Most victims don't get their story out, but from a friend to a friend, I want to do him justice.

I remember where I was the night I found out, it was Sunday, while I was watching the news. I heard, "The deceased boy was identified as 17-year-old Miguel Romero of San Jose." Tears began to fill my eyes, I felt a tingle down my spine, and felt the worst pain ever in my stomach. I denied it to myself -- asking why, saying it can't be him, and then finding out it was him but not being able to accept it.

I've known Miguel since elementary school. I've seen him grow up and start his senior year of high school. It saddens me knowing I won't get to see him go to his senior prom or cross the stage during his graduation. I only have sweet memories to reminisce on: walking home from school together, joking in back of the bus, going out to eat Chinese food when we were hungry. I pass by his house every morning and it kills me knowing I'll never be able to do these things with him again. It kills me even more to think about the pain his family is going through.

I don't want people not to care, or to make assumptions of Miguel because of what the media says. I know him personally and he wasn't a bad person, he just made bad choices. You can't blame him, we all do things that we regret, I just wished he could have learned from them. Those reading this, in a gang or thinking of joining one: DON'T do this to your loved ones. Don't let them suffer, cry and put the blame on themselves because of a careless mistake you are responsible of. I know Miguel didn't mean to do this, to make us miss him, but we do and it's an agonizing experience because it ended this way.

I'm glad the prosecutors are charging James Ortega as an adult (I am naming Ortega because he is being charged as an adult.) I agree with prosecutor Stuart Scott who said quote, "It's children killing children. We can't tolerate that as a civilized society. You take a gun and you shoot three people and you kill two of them when they're trying to get away from you, you've got to be held accountable." In my opinion, if you kill someone because it makes you a "man," then you can suffer the consequences like a "man." Although some would be quick to argue like teacher Doug Robinson, "I believe in redemption. A life sentence for a 14 year old just seems incredibly harsh." But, only time will tell what will happen.

Every time I pass Miguel's house I vision him walking out the front door, smiling at me and saying "hi" like he used to, asking me how I was doing or how my day was. I know my life will never be the same now with one less hi, one less smile, one less heart, one less soul.

Rest in peace my angel, I know eventually we'll be together One Sweet Day.