VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) — Family and friends gathered Sunday to celebrate the life of 18-year-old Antonio Monroe, a high school senior who was shot and killed at a graduation party in Visalia on Saturday night.
Monroe’s family said he grew up in Visalia but moved to Lemoore about five years ago in an effort to escape violence.
“That’s why his mom did the effort before he started high school to leave the junior high there to move to a different city, a better area,” said Cecilia Benavides, Monroe’s godmother. “She did it for her son, so he could have a better high school experience.”
Family members said Monroe had been preparing to attend welding school, looking ahead to his future. Instead, they are now remembering the ways he supported and uplifted those around him.
“‘You deserve more, you deserve better. You don’t need makeup to look beautiful because you are.’ Like, what little boy says that?” said Athena Benavides, Monroe’s cousin.
Relatives said Monroe will be remembered as a young man whose life was cut short by the same kind of violence he had tried to leave behind.
They expressed grief that he is among a growing number of young victims of gun violence.
“Look what it’s doing to our youth, which is our future for our country,” Cecilia Benavides said. “If we keep doing this as a community, we’re torturing our future. We’re not giving them hope.”
Three other students injured in the shooting are expected to survive and are recovering, according to authorities.
Visalia police are investigating the incident and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
