Vigil for Santa Monica Shooting Victim

Last week, many people watched in shock as the Santa Monica shootings unfolded before their eyes on television. For Colton resident Gabriel Torres, the minute he heard the broadcast and heard the reporters talk about one of the victims, it became personal. “It was a gut feeling, you know? You know how your gut just tells you something is so? Well, the minute I heard it on TV, I knew,” Torres said, “I knew it was my mom.” Without hesitation he and his family jumped in their car and rushed to his mother’s home in Santa Monica. Torres said that although first reports spoke of her as a homeless woman who had been shot by the gunman, he felt sure it was his mother, Margarita Gomez, 67, because “She lived right across the street from the college and would go to the college grounds looking for recyclables to help support a small seniors group at her church.” Margarita’s pictures adorned the podium at the candlelight vigil held in her honor at Fleming Park in Colton last Friday, June 14. About 150 people gathered at the park to show support for the Torres family and pay homage to the woman who lost her life on the steps of the Santa Monica college library. Colton City Councilwoman Susan Oliva was a guest speaker at the event and shared her concern for the family’s loss. “This is an unbelievably tragic thing for any family to have to deal with. Margarita was a mother and a grandmother who was a very independent woman, who loved life and loved being on her own. I think this incident serves to remind us how short and precious life really is.” With representatives from both the Colton Fire Department and Police Department present, the vigil was covered by Channel 11 news and gave participants a time to pause and reflect on the life of Mrs. Gomez as family and friends spoke of how she was always smiling. “My mother was a good person,” said Torres, “She spoke to everyone, held no grudges, and loved to laugh.” He was surprised to see how her loss had brought the community together at the vigil. “I’m surprised to see that the city and neighbors would participate in this, you know, that people so far away from Santa Monica would care so much.” Torres explained that when his friend Jesus Villarruel of Colton had suggested having the vigil in support of the family, he agreed: “Because of the way she died, my mother’s death has become a very public event.” Villarruel spoke of Gomez and the other victims of the Santa Monica shooting, offering the vigil to the Torres family as the city’s way to “reach out to demonstrate support for the Torres family, as good, caring, strong people.” “There are questions in life to which there are no answers,” said Villarruel, “And that’s when we depend on our faith for comfort, and our family for strength.” He reminded everyone of the everyday heroes who risked their lives to help others during the tense moments in Santa Monica. “Colton is here for you tonight,” he said to the Torres family, “and we will do whatever it takes, for however long it takes, to help you through this. That’s what families do, and in Colton, we are all family.” The family will hold the Rosary and Viewing for Margarita Gomez on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 6 p.m. at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 2017 Colorado Blvd in Santa Monica. Mass will be held on Friday, June 21, 2013 at 11 a.m. at St. Anne’s. Interment will follow the mass at Holy Cross Mortuary at 5835 W. Slauson Avenue in Culver City. Contributions may be made to the family at Gofundme.com/Margarita Gomez, Chase bank account #2963108561