Under a gray sky the family of Jesus Ponce gathered at La Vista Memorial Park in National City to remember the man they called “Chuyito” on a day that marked the one-year anniversary of his murder.
Ponce was 19 when he was shot and killed on Third Avenue and Zenith Street last June 8 as he and two other men were on their way to a nearby convenience store and gas station.
He was shot in the back while trying to help a relative, who had been shot in the foot moments before.
His killer remains at large, leaving Ponce’s family with unanswered questions.
“We mainly want to know who did it and why?” said a choked up Bertha “Peeper” Castellano, Ponce’s grandmother. “It’s very hard not knowing this.”
Authorities have not given up on the case, saying that they believe the family will soon find closure.
“Speaking with the investigators, they’re getting pretty confident they have identified a group of individuals that they feel they’re getting close to making an arrest on this,” said Chula Vista Police Lt. Fritz Reber at the memorial. “They’re making progress certainly. The work is not over and that’s why we’re here both to support the family and also ask for anybody else who might have more information to please contact us.”
Ponce’s family said Jesus wasn’t involved in gang activity but he had friends that were.
A motive is unknown at this point, Reber said, but authorities believe that Ponce’s murder possibly could’ve been gang-related.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Chula Vista Police Department.
