Nearly 1,000 Gather To Honor Oak Forest Shooting Victims, Families

OAK FOREST, IL — A community thrust into the spotlight by tragedy and the loss of three of its own gathered Monday evening, contesting the glare of camera lights and pressure of media with flickering candles and unity.

Nearly 1,000 people quietly filed into rows around the Oak Forest gazebo near City Hall, encircling the families of 43-year-old Lupe Gomez, 20-year-old Emilio Rodriquez and 22-year-old Briana Rodriguez, three killed during a shooting outside their home on Ann Marie Lane Friday. As purple clouds hovered in the sunset, organizers and volunteers distributed candles and purple ribbons in recognition of domestic violence awareness.

Gomez and her children were fatally shot by Gomez's husband, Carlos Gomez, who then set the family's home ablaze before taking his own life by gunshot. Two of Lupe Gomez's biological children—girls ages 13 and 15—survived, one by escaping as the shooting happened, the second by being sent from the home before the flames.

But the focus Monday was not on what happened to the three, but instead on who they were. Several family members spoke of Emilio's unique personality, Briana's capacity for love and Lupe's guiding hand as a mother of four. A pastor led attendees in singing Amazing Grace, and a chant of "One day at a time," and family released purple and white balloons into the sky. Attendees lingered after, sharing hugs, memories and tears.

Details came to light earlier Monday, painting a grim picture of a tumultuous relationship between Lupe and Carlos, with several calls to police for domestic issues since 2016, the Chicago Tribune reports. One such call resulted in a charge of domestic battery for Carlos, with the victim listed as Lupe Gomez. The outcome of that charge is not clear.

Nick Navarez, brother of Lupe, reflected on a relationship that was "to the extreme" with its difficulties. Left grief-stricken now, he is also utterly shocked by the events.

"I would have never expected this in a million years. ... I don't know if it was planned, or he just lost it. I can't explain it," Navarez said. "I have no words. I would have never thought he would go to this extreme."

Lupe had planned to leave the marriage and had taken steps to do so, Navarez said.

"I think he lost control over her," Navarez said, "because she already had lawyers involved, documents, everything you can think of. And this is what happened."

Navarez is caring for Lupe's two remaining daughters, one who turned 13 years old just the day after her mother's death, and another who is 15. The family stood together on the steps of the gazebo, in front of a solemn crowd aglow by candlelight.

"It was very beautiful," Navarez said. "Our family's very grateful for this gathering. We appreciate every donation, all the help."

Lupe was nearing a new chapter for herself and her children, said Braulio Resendiz, husband to one of the children's aunts.

"It was coming to an end where they were going to be happier," he said. "Lupe, she tried her best, she did a great job as a mom."

The children's aunt Lorena Contreras spoke of her departed family members with love and focus, noting they would want the family's energy to be devoted to honoring their memories and supporting Lupe's remaining children, with intentions set on caring for Lupe's living daughters.

"I just really want to thank the Oak Forest community for the love and support," Contreras said. "You showed us what community is about. ... The girls feel the love and support."

Contreras declined to comment on the relationship between Lupe and Carlos Gomez, saying their focus has to be on the two daughters left behind.

"That's what we have now, the tough job of—it's not tough—they're going to have so much love, so much love and support from family, and keeping the memory of their mom, brother and sister alive," Contreras said. "Mommy's always here, brother's always here, sister's always here."

Both Emilio and Briana Rodriguez were graduates of Oak Forest High School, in 2020 and 2018, respectively. Julia McDonough, coworker of Emilio, and former classmates Juliana Monnier and Jamie Paclar held a handmade sign of remembrance on behalf of Emilio's class.

"He was just a ball of fun," said McDonough. "We've got our group of nerds, we all hang out every Thursday. ... We saw him that Thursday, and we were all having the best time of our lives, laughing as much as we can, giving our ugly laughs. ... He was so nice, so respectful, just a gentle human being."

Two online fundraisers have been started, one to offset funeral and burial expenses for Lupe Gomez, and support her two remaining daughters. A second GoFundMe campaign has been established to raise funds for the funerals of Emilio and Briana.

'With everybody's support, we're pushing through, day by day," Navarez said, of the support from the community. "The girls—all my focus is on them."