In an emotional statement, the father of a victim of the mass murder in Isla Vista on Friday night addressed reporters Saturday and warned families that it can happen to them too. “Our family has a message for every parent out there: You don’t think it’ll happen to your child until it does.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Richard Martinez, the father of Chris Martinez, who was killed in the premeditated attack near the campus of UC Santa Barbara, spoke for 45 minutes, extolled the virtues of his son, and expressed his disdain for the National Rifle Association for refusing to back greater gun control legislation. “Chris was a really great kid,” Martinez lamented. “Ask anyone who knew him. His death has left our family lost and broken.”
Martinez, in an emotional plea, asked, “Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA… When will enough people say, ‘Stop this madness.’ We do not have to live like this. Too many people have died. We should say to ourselves, ‘not one more.'”
One student, 19-year-old Lyssa Hopper, was shopping at the IV Deli Market in the 6500 block of Pardell Road on Friday night when she heard a series of gunshots and a crashing sound of glass. She saw Chris Martinez fall to the ground slumped over, lying in a pool of blood. Hopper tried to give CPR to Martinez but was unsuccessful. Although paramedics arrived at the scene, they could not revive him. Lyssa said, while crying, that Chris had died.
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