Honor roll students, track stars: The 12 teens killed by guns this year in Tarrant County
As of Friday, at least 12 middle- and high school-age teenagers have died in Tarrant County this year from gun violence.
The youngest was 13 years old. The most recent was April 25, a 17-year-old.
No life can be summed up in a few lines of text. But here is a glimpse of what our communities lost when these young lives ended far too soon.
——
Daequon Macon, 18, was described on his memorial page as “the goofiest boy I knew.” He was shot and killed Jan. 16 at a gathering in a neighborhood near North Crowley High School. He died in the living room of the house.
——
Higino Edwin Flores, 15, was an honor-roll student and member of the Parrots Boys soccer team at Polytechnic High School, according to his GoFundMe page. He was described as a “beloved son, big brother, classmate and teammate.” On Jan. 17, he died after he was shot in a drive-by while lying in his bed at home.
——
Anthony Aponte, 17, and his brother, Isaiah Aponte, 19, were described as “some of the most loving, goofy and crazy boys I know,” in a GoFundMe after their deaths on Jan. 24.
“Their parents got their babies taken away from them and along with them, my heart,” the girlfriend of one of the boys wrote. Police say Anthony and Isaiah were killed by Jesse Lyn Williams, 51, after he broke into their home in North Richland Hills early in the morning. They were shot while they slept.
——
Christian Armijo, 18, was the big brother to his two younger siblings, his mother posted on Facebook. She described him as “full of joy” and a good kid who “was loved by so many.” He was killed Feb. 9 in a shooting on Lawther Drive in River Oaks.
——
Kory Smith, 13, was killed at a party on Valentine’s Day. Another person, 19-year-old Simieon Joseph of Crowley, was also shot and killed.
——
Alberto Rodriquez, 18, was shot and killed in a northwest Fort Worth park on Feb. 22.
——
Klodian Ramaj, 18, a senior at Fossil Ridge High School, was recently accepted to Texas Tech University and aspired to become a family physician. He and 17-year-old Johnny Rojas were shot to death March 12 while sitting in a pickup on Caribou Ridge Drive in Watauga.
——
Roshonda Henderson had a 7-month-old son, according to a GoFundMe arranged by her grandmother. Roshonda, 17, was shot around 11:40 p.m. April 12 on Stalcup Road. She died before she made it to a hospital.
——
Rashard Guinyard, 17, was a senior at Crowley High School known for his athletic ability on the track field and impressive performance in the classroom. He landed a full-ride scholarship to Abilene Christian University for the fall. On April 24, he was shot and killed during an after-prom party in southwest Fort Worth.
——
Julian Carr played sports at Haltom and Trinity high schools, including pole vault, cross country and football. He wanted to be an electrician, but his primary goal was to take care of his mother. For Valentine’s Day, the 18-year-old gave her a Bath & Body Works set, candle and card that read: “I love you mom. I will always have your back through thick and thin. Someday, this card will be a house and a new car. I love you, you are my forever Valentine.”
He never got the chance to give his mother everything he wanted. On April 1, two weeks after turning 18, he was shot on the porch of a house.
Julian loved his family deeply and had a unique, individual relationship with each of his five brothers. He often went over to his grandma’s house to mow her lawn. His mother, Deanna Hooton, said she could not remember the last time she carried in groceries — Julian always did it for her. The teenager reveled in taking care of his young nieces and nephews. He gave up most of his summer to take care of his 1-year-old niece, feeding and dressing her each day.
He often told his mom about the tattoo he wanted to get when he turned 18 that said, “Family” on one arm and “first” on the other. Instead, his brothers and dad will get the tattoo in his honor.
