‘Unimaginable loss.’ Family mourns after shooting of Richland middle school student
A 13-year-old Richland student is being remembered for his resilience, kindness and optimism after his sudden death in a Texas shooting.
Anthony “Tony” Lopez had overcome a childhood marked by many challenges and was on a path of positivity and hope, his mother, Monica Medina said in a GoFundMe post.
But a 15-year-old’s apparent recklessness with an AR-15-style rifle cut his life short on June 30, his mother said.
“Our family is devastated, struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss,” Medina said in the post. “Our hearts are crushed.”
Lopez planned to return to Richland from Houston on Monday after visiting family in Texas when he decided to make a stop at his best friend’s home at the St. James Place Apartments.
When he was there, a 15-year-old acquaintance of Lopez’s friend allegedly was playing with a rifle. Despite her son’s pleas to get the teen to drop the gun, the teen fired a shot that hit Lopez in the stomach.
“My son’s final moments were filled with confusion and pain, leaving his friend helplessly trying to keep him conscious,” Medina wrote. “His last words, ‘What’s happening to me?’ echo in our hearts, a painful reminder of a life cut short.”
The 15-year-old has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the shooting, according to a report from KTRK-TV news.
The sudden loss has left family scrambling to find money to pay for the funeral expenses, Medina said. They have set up the GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs.
“Thank you for your kindness, support and prayers during this heartbreaking time,” she said.
Unyielding optimism
Medina remembered her son for his unyielding optimism, resilience and kindness in the face of a tough childhood, the GoFundMe said.
“He was known for his impeccable manners, constant smile and the ability to find joy in the simplest things in life,” she said. “His happiness and infectious laughter brightened the lives of everyone who knew him. That kid was going places.”
He lived in the Tri-Cities with his father, she said. He played as part of the Saint Columbia Academy of Athlete football team, and just finished seventh grade at Carmichael Middle School.
A second GoFundMe campaign was shared by Saint Columbia Academy. This one also praises Lopez’s love of life.
“His laughter and smile lit up a room and he had a way about him that made people feel seen and special,” organizer Stephenie Morales said.
The academy added its own message, saying that Lopez “was a light that radiated to every athlete.”
“It was a blessing to have had the opportunity to coach you, and you will forever live on in our hearts,” the Facebook post said.
The school sent out a message Monday to parents about Lopez’s death.
“Anthony was a great athlete who loved football and his teammates,” Carmichael Principal Brian Stadelman wrote. “We will all greatly miss his bright personality, sense of humor, contagious smile and his deep love for those close to him.”
Stadelman offered suggestions for parents to help their children deal with their grief. He said some may be helped by opening up about their feelings, while others may not want to talk about it.
The district also offered contacts within the school district to help with support.
