Deaf 16-year-old Hersey High School student killed by gun violence
A 16-year-old deaf student who was a student at John Hersey High School, Uriel Garcia Vanegas, was tragically shot and killed on the night of September 15.
According to a GoFundMe by Isela Marquez, whose daughter Dulce is also a student at JHHS, Uriel was walking home with his younger brother and a friend when someone in a vehicle opened fire at them. Uriel and his friend were hit and did not survive. Uriel’s brother survived. This happened in Palatine, Illinois.
ABC 7 News said the friend was also 16 years old and that his name was Eduardo Alpuzar.
I was able to interview Dulce with her mother’s permission. She is 14 and a freshman at JHHS. I asked her to explain what she knows about the incident.
Dulce: Uriel was walking with his friend and his brother at around 10 p.m. to visit a friend’s apartment. Uriel’s mother said it was time to go home and Uriel said okay and, as he was walking home, a man in a car opened fire. Uriel tried to run away. He couldn’t hear. As he ran, he was hit by gunfire. His friend was shot ten times. Uriel was shot once. Uriel’s brother hid. The shooter got away. Uriel’s brother tried to wake him up and Uriel was barely alive and struggling to breathe. Others called for emergency services and it took twenty minutes for an ambulance to arrive and take Uriel to the hospital, but he died there around midnight.
Alex: Marquez said police said there is nobody in custody so far. It is possible that the shooter mistook Uriel for someone else.
Police told ABC 7 News that they are asking anyone with information to contact them.
I asked Dulce what she will remember about Uriel.
Dulce: He was a funny person. He could make people smile. He was honest, nice, and respectful. He was polite and cared about people. He was also silly. He liked to hang out and was friendly. He loved trucks and shoes and hats. I’m wearing his hat, it was given to me. Uriel dreamed of becoming a mechanic.
Alex: Dulce said Uriel was supposed to be a part of her quinceanera celebration but now his younger brother will take his place. Uriel’s funeral will take place next week.
Thank you so much for your time, Dulce, and for your bravery to explaining to all of us who Uriel was.
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Alex: Marquez said Uriel’s parents said they are “broken” and want the police to find the shooter. They are hoping for justice for Uriel. They are also thankful to the Deaf community for their support.
If you’d like to support Uriel’s family, the link to the GoFundMe is in the description and transcript.
Our hearts go out to those in the JHHS community who are grieving this loss.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/uriel-garcia-vanegas
ABC 7: https://abc7chicago.com/palatine-il-shooting-today-in-2023/13789850/