Parkland pain: Verdict ‘sucker punched us,’ sent message that ‘you can get away with murder’
With their emotions still raw, Christopher Hixon’s widow and Joaquin Oliver’s father struggled to understand how any juror would decide that life in prison without the possibility of parole was an appropriate punishment for the perpetrator of the 2018 Valentine’s Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Parkland school shooting verdict: Count 15 in penalty phase is Joaquin Oliver Padauy
Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer announced on Oct. 13 that a divided jury recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole as punishment for the Parkland school shooter on count 15 of first-degree murder.
Parents of Parkland victim bake bullet-hole cookies for the NRA
Manuel and Patricia Oliver, who lost their son in the Parkland massacre, are baking symbolic cookies with bullet holes that they plan to deliver to the National Rifle Association days before Christmas. PARKLAND, Fla. – Manuel and Patricia Oliver are baking holiday cookies for the National Rifle Association, but the gesture is anything but joyous. Patricia Oliver plans to deliver the cookies to the NRA office outside of Washington on Tuesday. The Olivers started a nonprofit called “Change The Ref” after their son was among 17 victims killed in the Parkland school shooting, with the mission of ending gun violence and promoting gun reform. Ahead of the 2020 election, they created an artificial intelligence version of their late son to urge votes for candidates who promised measures to control gun violence.
Parkland parents create AI video of slain son to spur voters
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Wearing his signature hoodie and beanie, an earbud casually hanging from one ear, passionate Parkland teen Joaquin Oliver urges his peers to vote for lawmakers who will end gun violence in a new video released Friday. From the grave, the teen is now begging his peers to cast the vote that he will never cast. People are still getting killed by guns,” he implores in the video created by his parents' charity to end gun violence. The teen, affectionately known as Guac, was affected by racism at a young age and protective of his Hispanic immigrant parents. “We know our son so well and we knew exactly what he wanted from life.”The lifelike image is also painful to watch for the grieving parents.
Biden, D-Wade among guests for Joaquin Oliver virtual event
PARKLAND, Fla. – A 20-hour virtual event is ongoing Tuesday to honor Joaquin Oliver, one of 17 killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, on what would have been his 20th birthday. Joaquin was shot down inside his school,” said his father Manuel Oliver. Among the listed guests were former Heat star Dwyane Wade, musician will.i.am, and presidential hopeful Joe Biden. The event, which began at 6 a.m., runs until 2 a.m. Wednesday. The Olivers are asking for donations to Change the Ref, an organization in Joaquin’s honor, that raises awareness about mass shootings.
Grief of massacres hits home for survivors of Parkland shooting
"This is the second time that I am in a situation where there is a mass shooting close to me," Manuel Oliver said about the dreadful coincidence. During 13 hours, 29 people died in two mass shootings in the United States and Manuel and Patricia Oliver were in shock. My sincere condolences go out to the families of the victims killed in #daytonohio & praying the injured fully recover. Another senseless & horrific mass shootings of innocent persons as we still ponder & pray for the victims & families of the #elpasotexas massacre. Joaquin's parents have been lobbying for more strict gun laws in the United States.
Massacres hit home for survivors of Parkland massacre
PARKLAND, Fla. - Had it not been for the 2018 Valentines Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Joaquin Oliver would be celebrating his 19th birthday on Sunday. "This is the second time that I am in a situation where there is a mass shooting close to me," Manuel Oliver said about the dreadful coincidence. In the last week, there were also mass shootings at a festival in Northern California, a Walmart in Mississippi and early Sunday morning at a popular entertainment district in Dayton, Ohio. All of the carnage happened while the student activists from Parkland were getting ready to go back to school. Another senseless & horrific mass shootings of innocent persons as we still ponder & pray for the victims & families of the #elpasotexas massacre.
Massacres hit home for survivors of Parkland massacre
PARKLAND, Fla. - Had it not been for the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Joaquin Oliver would be celebrating his 19th birthday on Sunday. Instead, his parents are painting a mural in his honor at the city where 20 people were killed in a shooting at a mall and on the morning 9 others were killed in a shooting outside of a bar. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.