READING, Pa. – “He always decided to put people first in every situation. Very loving, very caring,” said Guadalupe Tinoco, sister of the victim.
On a dreary day, family, friends and community members will attempt bring light around the Peace Dove statue in City Park as they mourn the death of 19-year-old Rafael Tinoco-Villagomez.
“It’s been really rough… just together… we’re just trying to manage,” Tinoco added.
Reading Police say the teenager was shot in the chest during a gathering at City Park Wednesday night. He later died of his injuries at Reading Hospital.
Investigators are still working to determine how big the gathering was, and what led up to the shooting.
“There’s a human connection to every child, not only in the city, but on this planet. And it’s our due diligence to do something about it,” said Edna Garcia-Dipini, head coordinator at Berks4Peace.
The death of another young man has rocked the community. Now city officials encourage everyone to speak out to make a change.
“Solutions are being attempted at this time,” said councilmember for District 2, Jaime Baez, Jr. “But we need the community to also be involved, we need the community to speak up.”