COMMERCE CITY, Colo — A Colorado teen, 16-year-old Envy Reinhardt, was shot and killed whereas sitting in a automotive Monday night time, and Commerce Metropolis police have arrested one other 16-year-old, who’s now dealing with a manslaughter cost.
The capturing occurred close to the intersection of Tichy Boulevard and Kearney Road, the place Envy and three different teenagers had been sitting in an SUV. In response to Commerce Metropolis police, one of many boys contained in the automobile shot Envy. Two of them fled the scene, together with the alleged shooter, whereas the driving force rushed Envy to St. Joseph’s Hospital. Envy was pronounced useless shortly after arriving.
Envy’s mom Pleasure Herrera mentioned she obtained a name from the hospital shortly after he arrived, informing her of his loss of life.
“I anticipated to listen to my son’s voice, and I didn’t,” Herrera mentioned. “I by no means anticipated to listen to he was gone.”
Picture courtesy of Ray Reinhardt and Pleasure Herrera.
Police are uncertain how the teenager ended up with the gun and so they have but to find it. Authorities confirmed that every one the teenagers concerned within the capturing knew one another.
“All we would like is the man to say the reality. If it was an accident, OK, say it was an accident,” mentioned Ray Reinhardt, Envy’s father. “The place’s the gun? Why are you hiding the gun?”
Envy’s mother and father mentioned he was kindhearted, creative and pushed. The teenager was an distinctive athlete and began a small photograph sales space enterprise on the age of 12.
Commerce Metropolis mother and father plead for justice after their 16-year-old son was shot and killed
Herrera mentioned Envy dreamed of touring the world and so they had plans to go to Peru later this 12 months. Herrera was additionally planning a visit to Dubai for when Envy graduated, to point out him the world’s “largest metropolis,” a promise she intends to maintain by releasing his ashes there.
“He knew how huge this world was, and he actually wished to see it,” Herrera mentioned.
Envy’s distinctive title got here from his father. The mother and father wished their youngster to have a reputation that stood out and encompassed their desires for him. Herrera mentioned on the day he was born, they knew he would develop as much as be the envy of different mother and father.
Picture courtesy of Ray Reinhardt.
“We had been going to create essentially the most excellent human being that everyone simply was gonna be so envious of and he actually match that,” Herrera mentioned. “His center title is exclusive too: Envy Astar. He was gonna be our star sometime, and he out-shined that.”
Whereas the police proceed their investigation into how the gun was obtained and what went fallacious that night time, they emphasised the issues round juveniles possessing firearms.
“Any loss of life of a young person is regarding,” mentioned Joanna Small, public data officer for the Commerce Metropolis Police Division. “We nonetheless cope with juveniles with weapons. It’s one thing that continues to be a giant concern for us.”
Initially, the teenager accused of capturing Envy was dealing with second-degree homicide prices, however Commerce Metropolis police confirmed that the district legal professional’s workplace is now solely pursuing a manslaughter cost. Though pissed off by the choice, Envy’s mother and father mentioned they’ll respect the outcomes of the investigation.
The mother and father are asking the suspect teen to inform the entire fact in regards to the night time. They’re pissed off by the teenager’s altering story.
“He was scared, however on the identical time, like, that is your pal,” mentioned Reinhardt. “If that is your pal, inform the reality.”
Herrera mentioned within the week since, the loss nonetheless does not really feel actual. The mom is left grieving the lack of her son, and attempting to deal with the tragedy of by no means seeing her youngster develop up or fulfill his desires.
“I am a little bit afraid when it may hit me, as a result of I really assume it may break me actually arduous,” mentioned Herrera, as she fought again tears. “He actually was my all the pieces. I’ll miss him a lot.”
Picture courtesy of Ray Reinhardt.
Reinhardt’s sorrow is compounded by the truth that he’s nonetheless struggling to interrupt the information to Envy’s 5-year-old brother, who retains asking about his older sibling.
“I don’t know the way to break the information to him. He is aware of one thing’s happening, however he doesn’t absolutely perceive. It’s going to be devastating to have that dialog with him,” Reinhardt mentioned.
Envy’s household continues to be showered with flowers and help from family and friends. They hope different households will educate themselves about gun security.
Commerce Metropolis police mentioned they’re nonetheless investigating the place the gun got here from.
Coloradans making a distinction | Denver7 featured movies
Denver7 is dedicated to creating a distinction in our neighborhood by standing up for what’s proper, listening, lending a serving to hand and following by on guarantees. See that work in motion, within the movies above.
