RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. — A Randolph County family is mourning the loss of their son to gun violence.
Asheboro police said a teen suspect shot 16-year-old Pedro Ortiz-Perez on May 3 at North Asheboro Park. Ortiz-Perez fought for his life in a hospital, but he was declared brain dead and died from his injuries on May 14.
Police said Ortiz-Perez was not the intended target of the shooting.
"She says that her heart is destroyed, that someone took her son," said Ortiz-Perez's aunt, Gloria Cruz. She translated for her sister, Maria Perez-Pacheco, who is Pedro's mother.
Cruz explained to her sister, "She said that he promised that he would always take care of her. And look what happened now. They took my son's life."
Ortiz-Perez was a sophomore at Southwestern Randolph High School and was on the soccer team. The team shared his photo on its Facebook page, saying, "#8 You'll always be with us."
Pedro's best friend, Fernando Hernandez, said Pedro was an amazing soccer player, always took care of his family, and loved to dance. Pedro always said to him, "That's life, brother!" The two grew up playing soccer together.
Ortiz-Perez's family said Pedro was an organ donor. His organs will save eight lives.
The suspect, also 16 years old, was arrested a week after the shooting in Statesville, NC. Police said after Ortiz-Perez' death, upgraded charges will be presented to a Grand Jury for indictment.
The Randolph County School System released the following statement about the death:
“A very special member of the Randolph County School System family, Pedro Ortiz-Perez, passed away on 5/14/24. Pedro was a sophomore at Southwestern Randolph High School. He was dearly loved by his classmates and the staff members at Southwestern Randolph High School as well as many other people throughout our community. It is with extremely heavy hearts that the members of the Randolph County Board of Education and I extend our condolences to Pedro Ortiz-Perez's family as well as the students, staff members, and community members of Southwestern Randolph High School. Additional counselors will be on the campus of Southwestern Randolph High School to provide support for students and staff members at the school throughout the week as needed.”