Holding tissues and a large, framed portrait of their beloved, family members gathered on Monday afternoon to commemorate Damien González at the Mission Recreation Center.
González was shot and killed on the second floor of the center on Friday afternoon.
No one could believe the bubbly 18-year-old was gone, especially not his loved ones. At a press conference outside under a gray sky, the family condemned his violent killing as a “stupid act.”
What led up to the homicide is unknown, but González was killed within the Mission Rec Center on Friday sometime around 3 p.m.
He had been playing basketball on the second floor of the gym with friends from nearby John O’Connell High School, where González spent most of his high school years. A young man wearing a black mask walked up the stairs, according to someone familiar with the situation, and targeted González.
The killing may have been associated with a dispute that originated on social media: Speakers at Monday’s memorial referenced online quarrels.
But most simply remembered a rising leader in the Mission District, who had long been involved in community organizing and was, as recently as this summer, pressing for more neighborhood funding.
“Damien was a great son, good friend. He went above and beyond for everyone,” said his mother, Ariana Sanchez, between sobs. Beside her, González’s aunt displayed a portrait of her nephew, who was depicted showing off a chain necklace and smiling softly.
Standing right behind them on Monday were dozens of Mission community members who organized the event and came to show support and appreciation for González and his family. “We’re in pain,” said Roberto Hernandez, a community leader often dubbed as the Mayor of the Mission. “But at the same time, we want to tell who he was, as a human.”
González was expecting his first child in October, and had planned to attend a baby shower next week, Sanchez said. He always attended church with his abuelita and watched over his mother and siblings, his grandmother, Teresa Santos, added in Spanish.
Nearby were bouquets of flowers, emptied Hennessy bottles, and dozens of candles in a makeshift memorial. Handwritten homages called González “Lil $mokey,” an endearing nickname, and referred to his fledgling T-shirt brand BBDR, which stands for “Born Broke, Die Rich.”
Multiple people who spoke Monday noted how González touched the community and was a bright, young leader involved with organizations like the Latino Task Force and Roadmap to Peace. Awaiting the speeches, people tightly hugged one another; Hernandez lit sage and waved it around González’s portrait.
“I just want to acknowledge Damien,” said one young attendee dressed in a white BBDR hoodie. “I want to say, I’m 10 years his senior, and I look up to him. I admire him very much.”
Alongside his mother’s family, González’s father, Rigo González, solemnly watched Monday’s proceedings. Friends of González stood by and wore necklaces honoring their friend.
Monday’s speakers called for an end to youth violence, and violence within the community.
After embracing González’s maternal relatives, Supervisor Hillary Ronen said she was “angered” by the “senseless loss,” especially of someone who was so involved with the community.
In the meantime, she called for stricter gun enforcement laws and increased responsibility of social media companies, whose platforms “tend to fuel these, you know, beefs that are happening online between young people.”
“We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure this does not happen again, because we are tired of losing young people to gun violence in this neighborhood, in this country, everywhere,” Ronen said.
González’s family feels similarly. “The only thing I ask the president, the governor, is to stop this. There’s no justice for families … We’re suffering. He’s no longer here, and we are dying, too,” his grandmother said emphatically.
Sanchez urged anyone with more information about the crime to go to the police. She said, “This cannot be another kid in the street, dead, no answers.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support González and his unborn child, partner and family. More news of his funeral will be released once available, his family said.
Once the brief remarks were over, the older González, Sanchez, her sister, and their mother followed a pastor to where the candles lay outside the center. They linked hands, bowed their heads, and prayed.
This was next level: an assassination. Kids should be safe in a SF Rec Center.
The the article got it right : the killing is totally stupid. Guns give disproportionate power to the worst people among us, including the stupid
This wasn’t just a shooting, it was an all-out assassination. The shooter sought out Gonzalez and assassinated him as he was carrying on with his life. This impulsive decision has destroyed two lives: the life of Gonzalez, as well as the life of the shooter (who will spend much of his life behind bars), not to mention countless relatives who are grieving and a child who never got to meet his father. There needs to be severe consequences for gang activity, and SF needs to crack down hard on gangs or else more young people will die. And there need to be more programs in schools to deter kids from becoming violent in the first place.
It’s not a gang, it’s an online dispute that’s cited as the reason.
Arguably an even stupider reason to kill someone.
These disagreements used to be handled with a fight after school where someone would get a black eye or bloody nose. Maybe later the combatants would become friends. Guns change everything.
Definitely, it’s sort of like gun involved suicide.
You fight with fists, rarely do people die. Usually just walk it off with temporary wounds and blunt trauma.
With guns, wounding if you’re lucky. But death is high…
There’s nothing left with guns, no chance at making a better difference, often only the worst difference.
Ronan called for stricter gun control. Ok she called for it but what is she doing about it? Is she bringing new legislation or funding new programs on firearm education or buy backs. Instead of calling for gun enforcement show us your ideas and prevention plans. I recommend education in the schools starting freshman year o gangs, weapons, death and its after effects on survivors.
So, not gang related? A “social media” beef?
OK.