Mother who lost son to unsolved killing finds the shade
PICO BOULEVARD — While cars zoomed past amid the lunchtime rush here on Thursday, Arminda Lopez stood on the curb looking content, delicately trimming the thin green stems of a brightly colored bouquet.
She placed the flowers in the clear plastic jugs that she and one of her girlfriends filled with fresh water for the week. The jugs rest at the bottom of a tree, its skinny trunk covered with faded photos, deflated birthday balloons and handwritten notes, including one written with black marker on cardboard that reads: “If the cops don’t get you first … God Will! Jesus, let justice be done!!”
The message speaks to the suspected gang member wanted for the murder of Lopez’ 15-year-old son, Eduardo “Eddie” Lopez, who was shot and killed on Feb. 28, just steps away from the tree that now serves as a memorial for the former student-athlete gunned down by a suspected gang member.
Eddie Lopez is remembered for his immense dedication to family, friends and his teammates. For that, his mother has dedicated herself to keeping his memory alive and the hunt for his killer fresh in the minds of all who pass by the marked tree.
“It is still very hard for me,” Arminda Lopez said of her son’s violent death, which remains unsolved.“But coming here, putting these flowers here, it helps me be with him. I feel like he is with me. I feel it’s the one thing that I can still do for him.”
Every Thursday, Lopez travels to downtown Los Angeles to buy dozens of flowers and place them at her son’s grave site and at the makeshift memorial on Pico Boulevard, near 25th Street. Lopez said she chose Thursdays because the cemetery where her son is buried, Holy Cross, removes flowers those mornings from all of the grave sites. She wants to ensure they will be there throughout the week.
While her routine helps keep her going, Lopez said she could not have survived the loss of her son without the love and support of family, friends and the scores of community members who helped her not only financially, but also emotionally.
“Everyone has been so supportive. It is incredible,”said Lopez, as she trimmed more flowers. “Everyone has become like a family to me. All of the kids are now my kids too. They’ve helped me so much.”
It was friends of Eddie’s and their parents who helped Lopez celebrate two weeks ago what would have been her son’s 16th birthday. They were also on hand Saturday morning, as elected officials and the director of the Venice Family Clinic unveiled a young Oak planted in the late teen’s honor.
The tree, paid for by the clinic and planted in the parking lot of its Simms/Mann House and Wellness Center, is intended as a living tribute to Lopez where family and friends can gather in the shade under its branches.
“This will always be a place of respite and peace for you to remember Eddie, and a place where we can come together to work to make this neighborhood a safer place,” said Elizabeth Forer, chief executive officer of the clinic, which is located less than 100 yards from where the shooting occurred.
School board member Oscar de la Torre, who runs the Pico Youth & Family Center in the Pico Neighborhood, said the tree planting at Simms/Mann was fitting, as the center is dedicated to solving health crisis amongst youth, and there is no greater danger to the health of youth than gang violence.
“More youth die in Los Angeles County because of gang violence than in car crashes,” de la Torre said. “Gang violence is the biggest health crisis affecting young people … This tree is symbolic, for it represents a seed we must continue to water and bring peace into our lives.”
Forer said the clinic was approached by City Councilman Kevin McKeown and Friends of Sunset Park about planting a tree in Eddie’s honor.
McKeown was on hand, along with Mayor Bob Holbrook, for the tree’s unveiling, as was school board member Maria Leon Vazquez.
“This is a place for remembrance, but this is not a memorial. A memorial is static. This will be forever growing, changing,” McKeown said.“I am moved to see all of you here. Times like these remind us about the power of community.”
It will take the collective power of every resident, and of every city in the county, to end the terror created by gangs, elected officials said. Lopez said on Saturday that she doesn’t want one more young life to be snatched away by senseless violence.
“We have to do something to stop the violence, because too many lives are being lost,” Lopez said, as she stood beneath the Oak tree, wiping tears from her face. “I look at these children here and I see them as being part of my family. These boys are my sons. They were very special to my Eddie and we need to do something better for them.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 19, 2006. Read the original PDF.