Jonathan Maciel’s family mourns the loss of their 19-year-old son
HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION) Hollister mourned the death of young Jonathan Maciel, who was the victim of homicide, in an event prior to the officer-involved shooting of a Salinas Police Department officer this week.
"It hurts me because I know I will never receive another one of his hugs," said Shanda Hernandez, the victim's aunt.
Family members and the entire Hollister community said Jonathan Maciel was taken from them too soon.
Monterey County District Attorney's Office released further detail on the victim of the homicide that took place near Chaparral Street and N. Main Street. Police found 19-year-old, Maciel unresponsive from deadly gunshot wounds on Monday when they arrived at around 1:45 a.m.
"Jonathan was a person so full of life, so joyful, so humble," Hernandez added.
Officers said they stopped the youth after spotting him near the scene, that was speeding and driving with his lights off.
Police identified the 16-year-old suspect to be the same person involved in Maciel's homicide. Police haven't released his name because he is a minor, but authorities confirm that he was armed and a judge will determine if he should be tried as an adult.
According to the District Attorney's Office, the officer-involved fired seven shots during the traffic stop.
"He was wounded, his injuries were not serious, so he was released from the hospital and the officers immediately transported him to the juvenile," said Miguel Cabrera
Although it has not been disclosed whether Maciel knew the suspect, family members of the victim confirmed to us that the vehicle the subject was driving belonged to Maciel's mother.
Maciel's teachers said he had several friends and all were very involved with the community.
"It was like getting punched in the stomach, just look at his face, I never thought I would wake up with that news," said one of his teachers and regrets the death of her former student because she said he always hugged her when they met at community events.
The community has created a GoFundMe campaign to help the family with funeral expenses.
