Community Rallies At Vigil Around Mother Of 15-Year-Old Homicide Victim

3 years ago 388

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Two weeks aft 15-year-old Jhosy Portillo was changeable and killed successful Highlandtown, a vicinity continues to mourn his loss.

During a vigil Tuesday night, a assemblage gathered unneurotic arsenic one, to amusement the Portillo household they aren’t alone.

Portillo’s mother, Cristina Guadalupe, on with his sister attended.

“No kid deserved to dice the mode my lad was killed,” cried Guadalupe Tuesday.

The radical gathered connected the country of East Baltimore Street and Highland Ave. wherever Portillo was past seen alive.

The vigil, organized by Comite Latino de Baltimore and CASA de Maryland, past walked astir the block, the aforesaid artifact Portillo walked, moments earlier helium was killed portion walking to the store.

“He told maine helium conscionable wanted to travel to the country store and bargain thing and that was the past clip I saw him, I had to get acceptable to spell to enactment and I near and that was that,” Guadalupe said.

Now, a assemblage is showing their support.

“Tonight is astir making definite they cognize that adjacent erstwhile the cameras are gone erstwhile no-one other is reasoning astir Jhosy, we’re inactive gonna beryllium determination supporting this family,” said Mayor Brandon Scott astatine the vigil.

Many families, said they stock successful Guadalupe’s sadness but are besides calling for alteration aft Portillo’s decease has near many, successful a mostly Latino neighborhood, feeling scared.

“They don’t cognize if they tin permission the kids outside,” said Lucia Islas, President of Comite Latino de Baltimore.

Councilman Zeke Cohen, who represents this neighborhood, vowed to “continue to marque definite that mothers consciousness harmless sending their kids to school” and to enactment the intelligence wellness of their communities.

Days aft Portillo’s death, constabulary released this video asking for assistance identifying a antheral seen moving from the scene.

But connected Tuesday, Mayor Scott said thing had changed successful this unsolved case. “There are nary updates,” helium said.

In the meantime, Portillo’s parent said she misses everything astir her son.

The household has acceptable up a GoFundMe Page to assistance them wage disconnected their ceremonial expenses.