Tragic altercation takes the lives of two young Saint Therese of the Child Jesus parishioners

Friday, Jul. 29, 2016

MIDVALE — Two teenage St. Therese of the Child Jesus parishioners were killed July 6 after what Unified Police Department described as an argument over a shirt.

Jose Izazaga, 16, and his sister, Abril Izazaga, 15, were shot multiple times at close range “because of a dispute that apparently started over money owed for the shirt,” said Unified Police Lt. Lex Bell. “The loss of two young lives over an argument that involved a small amount of money – there’s no way of looking at that and not thinking it’s ridiculous and ludicrous.” 

The morning after the shooting, Father Jose Barrera Hernandez, parochial vicar of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, went to the Izazaga family home to pray with them.

The day before the funeral, a rosary dedicated to the Izazaga family took place at the parish.

“On July 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. we had the bodies present in the parish and we prayed for them as well as collected donations for the family,” said Fr. Barrera.

On July 13 the burials took place in the Midvale cemetery.

Jose Izazaga would have turned 17 on July 8, and Abril would have celebrated her 16th birthday the week after the incident. They had seven siblings.

“One can see all the pain in the family,” Fr. Barrera said. “It’s important to keep our sight on Jesus resurrected. More than crying about their deaths, we should celebrate their lives and that now they are sheltered in God’s arms.”

The shooting happened around 10:50 p.m. at an apartment complex  at 759 West 7720 South in Midvale, where the Izazaga family lives.

Mario Cervantes-Angel, 28, was arrested in connection with the shooting.

Kenny Lopez, the Izazagas’ older brother, said that an 18-year-old man who started the confrontation by accusing Abril Izazaga of taking the shirt was a longtime friend who spent a lot of time at the house, and sometimes stayed there.

According to the police report Abril was arguing with the man over a shirt, “possibly over money owed,” Lt. Bell said. 

“When the man began getting rough with Abril, Jose came out with a knife to defend her,” the police report states.

Abril was declared dead at the scene. Jose died en route to a hospital.

To help with the costs associated with the funerals, donations are being accepted at the Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish office, 624 W. Lennox St., Midvale.