Shooting victim remembered during candlelight vigil

RIO RANCHO — If one word could describe the feelings at Adrian Maestas’ candlelight vigil, it would be heartbreak. It was most evident with Maestas’ family as they spoke on the chilly, wet night Nov. 4 in Cabezon Park.

“My little cousin Adrian has given his life to the Lord, and I can say with full and complete confidence that that is where he is now, with our heavenly father and dancing with Jesus,” Rebecca Trujillo said.

She went on to say that she can imagine Maestas playing basketball and football with Jesus.

Stephanie Maestas spoke next and identified herself as Adrian’s other mother. “He had a lot of friends; he was very loved,” she said before stepping away, sobbing.

Maestas’ older sister Tristyn Garcia, who has been asking for justice for him on social media after the 15-year-old was killed after being shot in the head Oct. 30, said she wanted everyone to remember who he was, someone who was kind and would help the people around him.

“A person like that is hard to find in this world today. I know every single one of you has a memory with my brother, and that’s a beautiful thing. We gotta hold on to it. You gotta cherish it and embrace it. We gotta reflect it in our community and with other people,” she said.

Before the vigil started, Adrian’s mom, Darci Romero, went around hugging people while audibly sobbing.

“I’m Adrian’s mom, and he was my world. He was my baby,” she said through tears. She spoke out to the dozens of Rio Rancho teens, asking them to remember the good memories with her son.

For a lot of them, Adrian was their friend, and they said his death is just not right.

“We love Adrian. Very good young man,” teen Jesse Campos said.

James Barreras, another teen, said Maestas was inspirational. “I’d do anything to see him one more time,” he said.

Another teen said Maestas was the guy to bring a smile to people’s faces.

All three teens said what happened to Maestas was “not right at all.”

At this time, details of the shooting are limited. The incident report has not yet been released.