Mr. President, We Are Hurting

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 ❚ ELPASOTIMES.COM ❚ PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK

JORDAN ANCHONDO • ANDRE ANCHONDO • ARTURO BENAVIDEZ • JAVIER RODRIGUEZ SARA ESTHER REGALADO MORIEL • ADOLFO CERROS HERNÁNDEZ • GLORIA IRMA MARQUEZ MARÍA EUGENIA LEGARRETA ROTHE • IVAN MANZANO • JUAN DE DIOS VELÁZQUEZ CHAIREZ DAVID JOHNSON • LEONARDO CAMPOS JR. • MARIBEL CAMPOS (LOYA) • ANGELINA SILVA ENGLISBEE MARIA FLORES • RAUL FLORES • JORGE CALVILLO GARCIA • ALEXANDER GERHARD HOFFMAN LUIS ALFONZO JUAREZ • ELSA MENDOZA DE LA MORA • MARGIE RECKARD • TERESA SANCHEZ

LA FRONTERA DE LUTO: PASEÑOS Y JUARENSES COMPARTEN SU PÉSAME Y DOLOR MR. PRESIDENT, WE ARE HURTING

EDITORIAL

Dear Mr. President: ones, El Paso quickly brought so much water and ice to Today is a tragic day to visit El Paso. their aid that donors were turned away. Less than a week ago, 22 of our own were killed as they When a gunman passed over one man to target others, shopped in a neighborhood store, as they prepared for that man didn’t turn and run. He grabbed soda bottles from their weekends, as they provided for their families. the shelves and started throwing, trying to distract the Most of them were from El Paso. Eight were from our gunman from his evil intent. He was shot twice because of sister city of Juárez, steps away. it. His name is Chris Grant. He is from El Paso. Today, you will find us in the agony of our mourning. As Grant lost blood and stumbled from the store, a The violence that pierced El Paso, that draws you here woman helped stop the bleeding. She helped rush him to today, is not of our own community. An outsider came medical care. She had been shopping on her day off. Her here, to shatter our city, to murder our neighbors. A white name is Donna Sifford. She has been in El Paso since 1992. man from another Texas city came to target the more than She is a port director for Customs and Border Protection. 80% of us who share Hispanic roots. They met again later at the hospital and embraced. Now, We are horrified to have witnessed this violence in our they are friends as well as neighbors. city. This is El Paso. This is not the El Paso we want the world to know. This is Make no mistake. Today is not a happy day. Our city is in a city with a deep tradition of racial harmony. It is a city of pain. We were targeted by a white supremacist, and we are warm, compassionate, patriotic, accepting residents who suffering. We will remember the names of the 22 neighbors did not deserve this suffering. who died. Their names are printed here. But Mr. President, while we are sorry to have seen such The violence of that day may have been a product of his violence and felt such pain, one other thing must be said hatred. It was not a product of our community. about today. Our community did not deserve this. Today is a very good day to visit El Paso. Our compassion for one another goes back to the city’s Today, in spite of our suffering, you will see the city that founding. makes us proud. We were pioneers when a basketball coach from a small As our neighbors lay bleeding in hospitals, El Paso stood college we now know as UTEP started five African Amer- in line, in 104-degree heat, to donate blood, so much blood ican players in a national-championship basketball game that organizers had more than they could handle. As families waited to be reunited with missing loved See EDITORIAL, Page 3S

People visit a memorial Monday outside the Walmart in El Paso where a mass shooting took place on Saturday. MARK LAMBIE/THE EL PASO TIMES

‘ANGER HAS NO PLACE’: Clint ISD, uncle honor memory of 15-year-old student. Page 2S Volume 139 | Issue 219 ‘IT JUST WENT CHAOTIC’: El Paso native threw bottles to distract gunman. Page 4S Home delivery pricing inside Subscribe 877-301-0021 QEAJAB-02401z ‘GUARDIAN ANGEL’: Customs and Border Protection port director helped saved lives. Page 4S ©2019 $2.50 2S ❚ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 ❚ EL PASO TIMES ELPASOTIMES.COM ❚ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 ❚ 3S Editorial ‘Anger has no place in honoring his memory’ Continued from Page 1S for the first time — and won. Fort Bliss, a key U.S. Army base, Horizon High draws service members from around the world. They make us an interna- mourns student tional city many times over. When these patriots retire, many are pur- Javier Rodriguez, 15 poseful in making El Paso their home. When Pope Francis visited the Molly Smith Americas, he chose Juárez to conclude El Paso Times his trip. From there, he could reach out USA TODAY NETWORK – TEXAS to the world on both sides of the border. In El Paso, we embrace our relation- Javier Amir Rodriguez was many ship with Juárez. We are not separated things to his classmates at Horizon High by a border fence. In El Paso, the border School: a best friend, a happy person, is an opportunity. Commerce helps ev- someone who was always there for others eryone share in the American dream. in need. We all want the same thing — we A teacher remembered him as a stu- want our country to prosper. That’s not dent who lit up the room and often en- different from your goal for America. tered class dribbling a soc- For many of us, our parents were cer ball. born in Mexico. We are proud of that It was his drive and Horizon High School holds a vigil for and we are also proud Americans. competitiveness on the Javier Rodriguez on Monday at the high America is our country. We are field and passion for soccer school football field. His death will home. that caught the attention hopefully “serve as yet another lesson Not everyone who visits El Paso has of his soccer coaches, but it to a country with a lost identity,” his understood this. Rodriguez was his role as the “ulti- coach Hugo Gines said. During a visit to El Paso in April 2017, mate teammate” putting then-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Ses- other players first that stayed with them. sions called El Paso “ground zero.” He On Saturday, the 15-year-old was dle school teacher Adrian Barrios. He de- said our city was “the front lines … gunned down while waiting in line at the scribed his former student as someone where we take our stand” against car- bank with his uncle in one of the deadliest with a positive energy felt by those tels and human traffickers. mass shootings in U.S. history. Javier, around him. Mr. President, in your February State who attended Horizon as a freshman last His friend Alexis Acosta said Javier of the Union address, you claimed that year, is the youngest victim of the 22 would tell his classmates, friends and El Paso was “one of our nation’s most killed at an El Paso Walmart. family “to live on and do the things we dangerous cities” before a border wall Horizon High School students, teach- love to do. Don’t let the pain take over was built. ers, staff and parents joined community you.” Mr. President, that is not El Paso. members Monday evening to remember Those words, Acosta said, are what Ja- Our city and Juárez were always him and to tell the nation they would not vier told him after he lost a loved one. linked. Today, we are intertwined more let the tragedy define them. than ever. The evil that visited us tar- His death will hopefully “serve as yet Beto O’Rourke attends vigil geted people from El Paso and Juárez another lesson to a country with a lost alike. In our sorrow, we are more alike identity,” his coach Hugo Gines said. Sat- Javier and his uncle were in line at the than ever. urday’s shooting, Gines said, “has shown bank when a gunman entered the Wal- Some in our community doubt we the worst and the best part of people. In mart near Cielo Vista Mall. will be able to change your view of our your memory Javier, our community has His uncle, who was also shot, re- border community. But it is important shown great resilience despite the hurt.” mained hospitalized as of Monday night, to us that we explain all that is good according to Democratic presidential about El Paso. ‘We are people of hope, candidate Beto O’Rourke, who made a In El Paso, when a baby in a onesie is we are people of light’ surprise appearance at the vigil. O’Rourke covered in blood in an attack on a met with Javier’s uncle and other survi- neighborhood store, a man scoops her Clint Independent School District Su- vors. up and races for the exits. perintendent Juan Martinez did not shy “To see the love that he had for Javier In El Paso, when our neighbors are away from addressing the hatred that led and the impact Javier had made on his hurt, people and businesses donate to Javier’s death. life, and the sorrow that he felt at his loss, more than $1 million in just two days to “Apparently we were the targets be- was something that everyone in that hos- help them. cause of the color of our skin. I am sorry: pital room instantly felt,” O’Rourke said. Our people are scared. So many of us Javier did not chose the color of his skin. Javier Rodriguez’s family members release doves at a vigil Monday at Horizon High School. The 15-year-old was killed Saturday while shopping with his uncle at Walmart. PHOTOS BY BRIANA SANCHEZ/EL PASO TIMES “Please understand that this violence, feel our city is still viewed as a target. None of us have, none of us did,” Martinez this hatred will not define this community But El Paso does not lash out in an- said, switching between English and nor will it define the Rodriguez family. In- ger, even when we are treated unfairly. Spanish. of Texas John Bash said he intends to elementary school but did not enroll at those who use and promote violence, ter- regardless of race, skin color, religion or mer coach Juan Ferreira, who coached stead, it is the love that you are showing In El Paso, we won’t ever look at Investigators believe the shooter, who press federal hate crimes and firearms Horizon High School this school year, ror and death to spread their evil mes- political affiliation, the superintendent him in 7th and 9th grade. right now ... that we will forever be known someone who is different with preju- traveled more than 650 miles from Allen, charges against the gunman, which carry which began July 29, because he had sage. said. Javier’s message to his teammates by,” O’Rourke continued. dice in our hearts. Texas, targeted the city because it is a the death penalty. moved to another part of the county, a “In El Paso, in Horizon City and in Clint would be, “do your best, stay focused, Javier is survived by his mother, father The hatred that came to us came heavily Hispanic area. The Walmart is A talented soccer player, Javier was on district spokeswoman said. ISD, we refuse to be people of darkness. How Javier would hone your craft in soccer,” Ferreira said. and older sister. from an outsider. It did not come from popular with shoppers from both sides of the high school soccer team last year in “Even though we are angry,” Martinez We are people of hope, we are people of want to be remembered “I know that if I truly want to pay trib- Molly Smith may be reached at 546- El Paso. the border. addition to playing for a local club team. said, “we refuse to accept darkness as our light.” ute to Javier’s life, anger has no place in 6413; [email protected]; Tim Archuleta is editor of the El Paso U.S. Attorney for the Western District Javier attended Clint ISD schools since closest friend ... darkness belongs to This community respects one another Soccer was life for Javier, said his for- honoring his memory,” said Javier’s mid- @smithmollyk on Twitter. Times.

Man mourns nephew, youngest victim of El Paso shooting Family grieves for couple killed protecting baby

Molly Smith than for what happened.” Aaron Montes should have sympathy or anything, but I El Paso Times These include the small things, like El Paso Times don’t want to be angry at that man as USA TODAY NETWORK – TEXAS watching TV together, teasing each other USA TODAY NETWORK – TEXAS much as I am,” he said. “I want people to and Javier playing with Lizarde’s kids. understand he was probably mentally Octavio Ramiro Lizarde wanted to Javier would play his favorite rap group, Andre and Jordan Anchondo died pro- sick.” cash his most recent work check first $uicideboy$, for Lizarde’s son and the tecting their 2-month-old son, Paul, from Tito remembers waiting anxiously to thing Saturday morning at the bank in- two would dance. Javier also knew just the domestic terrorist who opened fire hear from his brother or his wife after he side Walmart so he could spend the rest how to calm down Lizarde’s daughter Saturday at the Walmart near Cielo Vista heard about the shooting. of the day helping his nephew get ready when she would start to cry. Mall. Tito called Andre’s phone numerous for school. While the physical pain of his injury They had entered the busy store that times, but he never answered. Hours lat- Javier Amir Rodriguez was about to will eventually end, Lizarde said, the morning, looking to buy school supplies er, someone from a hospital called Tito, start his sophomore year at a new high emotional pain of losing Javier never for their oldest child, Skylin, 5, and were asking the family to identify Jordan and school in El Paso, having recently moved will. gathering groceries for a cookout. the baby. from Horizon City to live with his grand- He’s still struggling to understand They had Paul with them and had left The family wanted to believe that An- mother, Lizarde’s mother. why his nephew’s life was cut short by a their daughter, Skylin, at cheerleading dre had just been injured and had not had Lizarde, a 23-year-old construction gunman filled with hatred for Latinos, practice. A third child, Victoria, was with a chance to reach them, but they were worker, wanted to pay for Javier’s haircut people who look like himself and Javier. her biological father. prepared for the worst, Tito said. and back-to-school supplies. Javier was a shy, quiet and kind young What should have been a fun, family Tito has been organizing a fundraiser Both were shot Saturday morning at man who put others first, according to his day turned tragic when a gunman burst for his nephew and nieces. He had a goal the Walmart near Cielo Vista Mall when a friends and soccer coaches. Like his un- into the Walmart, armed with what could of raising $5,000, but the El Paso commu- gunman opened fire on patrons. Javier cle, his outlook on life was positive and be an AK-47 rifle, and opened fire. Elsa Almanza, left, and Arlene Gomez bring donations and offer support to Gilbert nity has provided overwhelming support, didn’t survive. he had a sense of humor. Andre Anchondo, 23, stood in front of Anchondo, the father of Andre Anchondo, who was killed in the shooting. The he said. At 15, Javier is the youngest victim of Despite the pain, anger and confusion his family, trying to shield them from the grieving father was back at work Tuesday at an auto body parts shop in The community has donated nearly the 22 people who died. he feels, Lizarde said his faith will give gunman with his body. He was killed, as South-Central El Paso. “We have to work and carry on,” he said. Gilbert Anchondo’s $26,000 to his fund, and a steady stream “I did lose my nephew right in front of him the strength to one day forgive the was Jordan Anchondo, 24, who died try- son Tito is behind him. AARON MONTES/EL PASO TIMES of El Pasoans are bringing clothes, dia- me,” Lizarde said. “It was a horrible im- shooter. ing to shield their baby. pers, baby wipes and formula to the shop age and I hope nobody ever goes through “I really hope that if he doesn’t get the The newborn child suffered broken during the day. it. It’s very painful.” Octavio Ramiro Lizarde, 23, looks at a photograph of his nephew Javier Amir death penalty, I hope he gets better men- bones in the massacre, family members young age, Tito said. In middle school, Tito said the past several days have “I never thought so many people would He heard gunshots while they were in Rodriguez, who was shot and killed in the Walmart attack on Saturday. Lizarde tally and realizes what he did and betters said. Paul now is being cared for by grand- he’d go down to El Loco candy store on been difficult for him and his family as come,” he said. line waiting to open a bank account and was shot in the foot and will face many procedures in an effort to save his foot. his life,” he said. parents. busy Alameda Avenue and buy in bulk. they try to process what happened Satur- The family could use Enfamil formula, saw people run in every direction. He His mother, Dora Lizarde, is at right. MARK LAMBIE/EL PASO TIMES Lizarde is also leaning on his family in On Tuesday, Gilbert Anchondo, An- The next day, he’d sell the candies at day. It’s still too early to talk about who size 2 and 5 diapers and vegetables. called out for Javier and tried to grab him the days, weeks and months to come. His dre’s father, was back at work at an auto twice the price and make a profit, Tito will end up taking care of Paul and Andre Tito said he is thankful for the commu- to pull him toward the manager’s office at hospital room has been full since Satur- body parts shop in South-Central El Paso. said. and Jordan’s other children, he said. nity’s support and hopes the community the back of the bank. think about was whether Javier, who had Amir, than relive the harrowing minutes day and his mother and fiancé have not He was in his office, greeting customers Those memories bring a small smile to And it’s too early to talk about who will will remember his brother for what he did “I said, ‘come here, hurry up.’ He’s like, so much ahead of him, would make it out after gunfire broke out. left his side. and helping them make arrangements to his face and they’ll be what comforts him pick up their truck from the Walmart Saturday. ‘where?’ ‘Over here, vente,’ so I try to pull alive. The two had long been close, bonding “We just keep moving forward,” he fix their cars, while Andre’s brother, Tito, as he undergoes the pain of losing his ba- parking lot and what to do with a newly Abbie Han, a well-known El Paso box- him and I looked up and (the shooter) While only a few years apart, Javier over their love of video games, which Liz- said. walked through the shop. by brother. built house they have. er, visited Tito on Tuesday to offer sup- was there. (Javier) looked at (the shoot- was more like a son to Lizarde, he said. arde taught Javier to play. While devastated, the family will keep Gilbert Anchondo said he weeps for his “He would always say, ‘I love you, bro,’ ” “To know he’s gone is hard to believe,” port and reminisce when the brothers er) as well and he turned to look at me Lizarde was shot in the foot and has Though Lizarde didn’t love soccer as living for Javier, whose death has son but knows that life must continue. Tito said. “I know he respected the hell he said. were younger and in his martial arts and that’s when ...” Lizarde said, his voice been hospitalized at Del Sol Medical Cen- much as Javier, he would still dribble the brought them together. A cousin Lizarde “We have to work and carry on,” he out of me. But I never got the chance to tell Tito said he wants President Donald classes. trailing off. ter since Saturday. He was to undergo his ball with him in the park and try to keep had not seen in 13 years came to visit him said. him that I looked up to him also and he Trump to visit the family’s business when Han said he thinks of when young An- Lizarde caught a brief glimpse of the first orthopedic surgery Tuesday after- up. Javier was always dribbling a soccer after learning of the shooting. Tito Anchondo, 27, said his little broth- will always be my hero.” he comes to town today. He wants the dre was his student. Looking at a picture shooter, only enough to see that the man noon, the first of many procedures in an ball, constantly striving to improve his After he’s released from the hospital er looked up to him while they were grow- Tito said he would like to take care of president to know about his brother and from the past, Han said, “He was always wore glasses. He said he thinks the gun- effort to save his foot. technique. He played for both his high he wants to tattoo Javier’s face on his ing up and making their way in and out of Paul and give him the life that his brother what he did to protect his family. curious.” man heard them, which led to them being When doctors presented him with school team and a local club team and body, to always keep him close. He also the family’s auto body shop. wanted for him. He wants to show Paul “My brother is a big Trump supporter Tito said that people “need to under- shot. the option of amputating his foot, he dreamed of meeting Brazilian soccer star hopes Javier’s face will be captured in a At times, Andre Anchondo would look how his father lived and what he did to and I want him to know our family stands stand that, whatever my brother did in He stayed on the floor beside Javier for said no: an optimist, he wants to walk Neymar. mural so his memory will live on for ev- at his brother and say, ‘I always wanted to protect him. with the president,” he said. the past, I want this event to define him. I 15 to 20 minutes until police told him he again, to return to work and support his “He was really fun to be around,” Liz- eryone in El Paso. be like you,’ Tito Anchondo said at a small “I really would like to take care of Paul Tito said he feels shootings stem from want people to know he died protecting had to leave and they helped evacuate fiancé, 2-year-old son and 1-year-old arde said Tuesday from a hospital room. desk in the shop at 120 N. Piedras St. But and give him a family and siblings and young men having mental issues or suf- what he loved.” him from the Walmart, which he remem- daughter. “He was my ride or die.” Molly Smith may be reached at 546- the older brother said he wanted to be things he deserves,” he said. “A good life, fering from drug abuse, which can impair Aaron Montes may be reached at 915- bers being covered in blood. Those min- Lizarde would much rather discuss his “I’m trying to become stronger and be 6413; [email protected]; more like his brother. education and to let him know that his peoples’ decision-making. 546-6137; [email protected]; utes felt like eternity and all he could memories of Javier, who the family called happy for the memories that he left me @smithmollyk on Twitter. Andre was business savvy, even at a dad died for him and is a hero.” “I don’t want to say that the shooter @aaronmontes91 on Twitter.