Crete community rallies in support of family devastated by shooting

8 de Julio de 2024 a las 18:00 ·

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Crime Scene Do Not Cross Signage by Kat Wilcox from Pexels

The Crete community has come together to rally behind a family following a shooting last month.

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating the shooting of seven Hispanic people in Crete on Friday, June 28 to determine if the incident was a hate crime.

The State Patrol will deliver its findings to the Saline County Attorney’s office once the investigation is complete. There is currently no timeline for the investigation to warrant results.

The community has since come together to support the family and to prevent another incident. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) chapter of Nebraska has formed the Latino Alliance coalition to address the shooting and other ongoing issues for Latinos in the state.

“We're doing what we do civil rights," said LULAC state director Elsa Ramon Aranda. "We're standing by. We're going to give the state the opportunity, and we're doing everything we can to hook up the family with the appropriate resources so that they can get the basics.”

Although the family members have all been released from the hospital, Ramon Aranda said the adults have not been cleared to return to work.

The Latino Alliance coalition consists of other statewide Latino organizations as well as a social worker from Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim, a former police officer and a Hispanic minister. LULAC has also been consulting with the Guatemalan consulate following the incident. The coalition has organized donations for the family.

“I want the rest of the community to join the coalition and offer what they can, especially support," Ramon Aranda said. "And the message is, we will not tolerate this."

Ramon Aranda added she is waiting for more state leaders to address the shooting.

"LULAC is looking for long-term change, long-term policies, long-term results," she said.

The family has released a statement in Spanish for their community expressing their thanks for all that has been done for them: “Muchísimas gracias por todo lo que hacen por nosotros.”

Other groups that have condemned the shooting include national LULAC, Forward Latino, Everytown, Moms Demand Action.