The music at Emiliano Malpica-Medina’s Colorado vigil was festive and helped to alleviate the grief felt by his friends and family.
Dozens gathered Wednesday night for the vigil on 58th Avenue and Holly Street in Commerce City, the same spot where Emiliano and his family were struck by a car over the weekend. The 18 year old died and his mother, father and brother ended up in the hospital. His mother spent Wednesday night in surgery.
But even with that heaviness in their hearts, friends of Emiliano gathered to do what he taught them to do: find the happiness in life.
“It amazes me how much people loved my brother,” said Emiliano’s older sister Karen.
The family was on the way to her house in Commerce City when they were hit by a vehicle. The driver of that car and their passengers got into another vehicle and left the scene. The hit and run shocked the community and many expect to come to Wednesday’s vigil overcome with grief. Instead, they were surprised by an announcement by the authorities: one of the individuals involved in the hit had been arrested.