LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The family of a teenage boy who was shot and killed this week is calling for justice.
Police said Julio Bravo, 17, was shot to death at East Las Vegas Family Park just after 1 a.m. Monday. According to an arrest report obtained by FOX5, two teens tried to rob Bravo and a friend. When Bravo refused to hand anything over, police said, shots were fired. Bravo was struck by gunfire and died on the basketball court.
“It’s just a hard time for our whole family,” said Maria Bravo, Julio’s mother. “Just being in the house, everything reminds me of him.”
Julio’s friend survived, though police said she was struck by bullet fragments and sustained an injury to her wrist.
Officers arrested three teenage boys, including Jose Juarez. All three suspects face multiple charges, including open murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit robbery with a deadly weapon.
Juarez is scheduled for a bond hearing. Bravo’s family said they want him and the other two suspects to stay behind bars.
“We’re asking that these defendants are not released,” said Ofelia Markarin, the family’s attorney. “They are a major, major danger to our community.”
While Juarez has been charged as an adult, the other two suspects are being processed in the juvenile court system. One of them, according to the family’s attorney, has a previous criminal record. The family called on prosecutors to charge both as adults.
“Although they might be minors, their actions were that of adults,” Markarin said. “Their actions speak more than their age, and therefore they should be held to that adult standard.”
Julio’s mother said her son had big plans. He hoped to join the military and talked about buying a mansion for his family one day.
“He was going to take care of us, me and his sister,” Bravo said. “He was always our protector. And now he’s gone.”
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