Family, friends mourn 4-year-old gunshot victim
Several hundred people attended a funeral today for 4-year-old Roberto Lopez Jr., who was fatally shot outside his Los Angeles home by a stray bullet.
Inside the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels, a 12-person choir sang and family members and friends mourned the victim of gunfire exchanged by rival gangs.
“It’s really a tragedy when a youngster dies,” said Councilman Ed Reyes before the Mass began. Reyes noted that “each one of us needs to take into account what we can do as individuals” to keep our young people safe.
Cardinal Roger Mahony conducted the mass in Spanish and urged those present to think about how short life is and recall God’s larger plan. At the front of the room, near the casket draped in white, was a picture of Roberto wearing a black cowboy hat.
He was shot in the chest Jan. 13 while walking with his sister just south of Angelino Heights.
-- Ari B. Bloomekatz
Photo: The casket containing the body of 4-year-old Roberto Lopez Jr. arrives at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. More photos. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
How sad. Thank you, Cardinal Mahony, for being with the family and paying for their funeral and burial costs. That was really a very caring gesture.
Posted by: Bill | January 23, 2009 at 11:23 AM
May the prayers of your deeply sorry and pained community provide you comfort. Although I did not know your precious little boy, many tears of sadness fall. God Bless You.
Posted by: YJinGlendaleCA | January 23, 2009 at 11:27 AM
oh so sad=( tear terar!!!
Posted by: annonimous | January 23, 2009 at 11:38 AM
I have tears in my eyes. I feel so sad for the parents for what they have to go thru for the rest of their lives. I have a beautiful wonderful son who will be turning 2 years old this year. just like Roberto he has a bright smile and energy with love. As a new parent we will strive to protect our young ones from harm dangerous people. Life is to short and we should all take the time to say I LOVE YOU TO ALL ARE CHILDRENS EVERYDAY. My heart feels heavy now but Roberto Jr is with our God full of Energy and Joy. He lives in Lopez's family heart forever.
Posted by: Dennis Villanueva | January 23, 2009 at 11:48 AM
My deepest sympathy to the family. Even though I don't know them, I cried when I heard about it, why does another innocent child have to die because of gangs? I wish they would do some thinking and have consideration before they start shooting at each other. I grew up in Boyle Heights around gang members but back in the day's they had respect for others, they only did their gang fighting/shootings when inocent people wasn't around, even if you weren't a gang member just because you lived in their neighborhood they would also protect you. Now they don't care, it's so sad that this new generation of gang members have no respect, morals, sympathy toward others. I wish there was a solution to stop this from happening over and over again. God bless and protect our children.
Posted by: Maria | January 23, 2009 at 12:17 PM
The Latino community should be upset at all the gang bangers. They should do something to curve the violence instead of just accepting it as a way or part of life. It doesn't have to be this way... but no true leader will have the courage to speak the truth.
Posted by: confucius | January 23, 2009 at 12:32 PM
LA now gang infested is unsafe for all ages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | January 23, 2009 at 12:32 PM
This trajedy exemplifies the need for gun control and an end to gang violence.
My prayers with the family and may God be with them.
Posted by: Sheila Baker | January 23, 2009 at 12:35 PM
I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of this sweet, innocent little boy. As a mother of myself, I have no concept of such a loss and can only imagine how difficult it must be for you. Fortunately, in the Bible at John 5:28 & 29 we're assured that one day not only will death be a thing of the past, but we also have the prospect of seeing our dead loved ones again. I encourage you to take a moment to read about this wonderful hope in your own copy of the Bible. If you would like to discuss it further, please feel free to contact me. In the meantime, I wish you and your family all the best in the days ahead.
Posted by: Staycie | January 23, 2009 at 12:58 PM
I'm so sad for this family. Trying to make a better life for their family only to be struck by tragedy. I'm so tired of these loser gang members...put them on an island somewhere and let them kill each other...good riddance to them all!!
Posted by: Concerned Angeleno | January 23, 2009 at 01:11 PM
i currently live in nyc and remain haunted by the senseless violence that i experienced as a child growing up in los angeles. running away solves nothing, because there is an extremely empty and unsatisfying feeling when it follows you hundreds of miles away.
unfortunately, our country doesn't care until it affects someone of their own. guns will proliferate until the NRA and the anti-gun activists who suffer from senseless deaths finally sit and come to a resolution. can we sacrifice hunting because so many innocent victims are dying?
i was just in dc among 2million people and not one act of violence. then we return to our communities and its the wild wild rest.
god bless the dead.
peace
Posted by: Leevert | January 23, 2009 at 02:02 PM
Concerned Angeleno: We have just found another use for GITMO, once the terrorist leave in a year. Send the gang members there, and hey please re-institute torture!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | January 23, 2009 at 03:56 PM