The Hermosa neighborhood has not experienced a spate of crime that’s befallen so many other parts of the city.
That’s why the death of 2-year-old Julien Gonzalez is especially difficult.
In the shadows of the alley where they lost him, the little boy’s family lit candles Monday.
Roberto Albarenga collapsed to his knees at a small memorial, still hearing the shots in his head.
“We pray for the end of senseless violence,” attendees said in unison.
25th District police officers intentionally held roll call with the people.
“We’re going to get out here we’re going to get any information we can," a police spokesman said.
Underscoring the need for leads to solve this crime, one woman's sign read “silence equals acceptance”. The woman holding it lost her son last year.
"My heart breaks, it breaks that baby deserved to live," Elisa Rosado said. "That’s a baby.”
Robert Torres work with Parents for Peace and Justice.
“I’m shaking right now with what happened in our community," Torres said. “We gotta come out of four walls we gotta come out of our buildings."
Ald. Gilbert Villegas also attended the vigil, urging any witnesses to come forward.
“Someone saw something, what it takes is the community and the residents to understand that if they can’t talk to police department, that’s why my office is there, to act as a conduit between the police and the community," Villegas said.
Julien's family said they weren't ready to speak about their loss. He is the youngest victim of violence in the city this year.
