EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — It has been a number of years since households had been in a position to walk in reminiscence of their family members, and victims of crimes had been commemorated with the Walk for Victims of Crime. One grieving mom informed ABC-7, the walk is essential for other people like her.
“It’s very hard, you know, having to go on with life without my son. Just thinking, and knowing, you know, what could have been,” mentioned Ruby Lerma, who misplaced her 16-year-old son, Isaiah, when he used to be shot to loss of life just about two years in the past.
“Justice still hasn’t been served. There is a trial still going on. It’ll be two years in December. It’s very hard,” mentioned Lerma.
Lerma additionally walked for her uncle and two cousins. She isn’t on my own in her ache, in addition to her hope for justice for her family members. Hundreds of other people from El Paso, Hudspeth, and Culberson Counties walked the trails of Franklin Mountain State Park, preserving the similar ache, and the similar hope.
The walk used to be held via the El Paso District Attorney’s Office. El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks spoke at the match.
“People who are victims of crime, are innocent victims of crime. They never intended to be a part of the criminal justice system. They’re a part of the criminal justice system because somebody took their rights from them, made them a part of the criminal justice system against their will. And this is a point to give them a voice,” he mentioned.
But Hicks additionally mentioned, the walk is only one step in the adventure to justice.
“Cases that had been stagnant for years are moving forward. We’ve been going to trial on case, after case, after case that are 2018, 2019, even 2020 cases that have been stagnant and sitting in our courts. And we’re pushing those cases forward. And people are appreciative of that,” mentioned Hicks.
Lerma mentioned ready for justice is extremely painful, and he or she hopes justice for her son is served quickly.
“Having to wait, and have everything, you know, be replayed over again, I think, is gonna be something that’s going to be very hard,” she mentioned.
But Lerma informed ABC-7, having the walk again this 12 months is a reason why for hope.
“There are a lot of us out there that are going through the same thing, and sometimes… it might help knowing that you’re not the only one, but that there’s other people going through the same thing. And together in unity, I think it’s a big help,” she mentioned.
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