The purpose of the Wilmington Wire is to raise awareness of positive things that happen in our community. I am taking this opportunity, however, to shine the light on a tragic tale of a young man named Guillermo Javier Huitron Salas and his unexpected death on Friday, June 4, 2010.
He was 22 years young with a many aspirations for a better life. He worked two jobs in an effort to aid his family, and hoped to build his very own someday.
His death took place here in Wilmington at a graduation party that was meant to celebrate the culmination of a new beginning, not the indefinite ending of someone's life. According to police reports and local newspapers, Guillermo was involved in the conflict and instigated his own death. In reality, he had absolutely no connection with the argument that took place and was a mere victim of a stray bullet that was fired. People made an effort to call for assistance and hoped an ambulance would arrive to help the poor soul. Unfortunately, to surprise the of many people, an ambulance was not the first to answer the distress call and no emergency assistance had arrived for a long time.
The police were the first at the scene, and by that time it was too late. Guillermo had bled to death after several hours and there was nothing anybody could do about it. My personal opinion is that the police answered the call rather than the ambulance because after considering the location of the emergency call, law enforcement automatically assumed that the incident was gang related. A case might not even be built because, although the party was packed with possible witnesses, no one is willing to testify due to social pressures present in our community that haunt our very existence. Just because of the possibility that the accused could be involved in a gang has the public in silence.
Today I visited the Huitron house to pay my respects to the family that have a long history with my own, that is how I have been informed about these injustices and of the reality of the enormous expenses that come with a family member's death. It is going to cost thousands of dollars in order to have an appropriate burial for him, and much like many families in our community, they strive every single day just to get by and support themselves. Guillermo's parents and mine are acquaintances from way back, since our years in Mexico, and we both migrated to this country at around the same time. "It's crazy how we come to this country in search of the American Dream, and we find the American Nightmare," a friend of Guillermo's commented to me. And it is true; never did our parents imagine such a tragic ending for any of their children in the land of "opportunity".
The family and friends will be hosting car washes and other fund raisers in the community. Considering there are several things that need to be taken care of, the location and time of the car wash is still pending, but I will keep this updated with ways to help the family. I understand that this story is no stranger to the Wilmington public, for it seems to be repeated countless times in our small town due to gang violence. If the hierarchy of society will not help us out, then it is up to our own community and friends to aid when it is much needed.
Julio Cruz
The Wilmington Wire
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