Friends and family of 17-year-old Oscar Daniel Joaquin gathered with members of the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) and the community in Santa Maria’s Russell Park on the evening of Feb. 22 to search for answers.
The gathering was arranged by the SMPD and attracted nearly 100 people to the scene where Joaquin’s body was found to try and find out who murdered him and why.
On July 28, Joaquin was found suffering from gunshot wounds near the corner of Barrett Street and Western Avenue. According to SMPD Detective Paul Van Meel, Joaquin was taken to Marian Regional Medical Center where he died later that night. Van Meel described the murder as “a very brutal and senseless act.”
“My goal here is to bring awareness of what happened and to remind people that there is a responsibility that we all have and that includes the witnesses, to support one another and be a part of a community,” Van Meel said.
With some chanting in unison, members of the community walked several blocks from Russell Park. They distributed fliers, posting them to apartment doors, under the windshield wipers of cars, and delivering them personally to anyone who would accept.
“Maybe it’s a enough to get them to feel that they’re safe coming forward to us, to call us and talk about what they know,” Van Meel said. “Because I feel very secure that there are witnesses out here who have simply not come forward.”
Joaquin’s father, Federico, walked holding a photo of his son.
After 30 minutes of walking, the crowd eventually reached the corner where Joaquin was found.
Joaquin’s killing is among the 11 unsolved homicides in Santa Maria in 2015.
“Oscar loved his Santa Maria community and he would be devastated to see what is happening right now,” said Rebekah Spicuglia, Joaquin’s mother, to the crowd of gatherers. “I want justice for him and I want justice for his friends and for people who lost their lives. I just want to see peace and love and happiness.”
Anyone with information about Joaquin’s death may contact the SMPD at 928-3781, Ext. 2277. Callers can remain anonymous.
This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2016.