Street Named For Teen Killed In Accidental Shooting On School Bus
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – It's been almost two years since Ady Guzman-DeJesus's daughter, 13-year-old Lourdes, was accidentally shot and killed by a classmate on a school bus.
A group of community dignitaries and members gathered Wednesday to honor the life of Lourdes Guzman-DeJesus who was killed 2012.
Click here to watch Summer Knowles' report.
Lourdes Guzman-DeJesus, who also went by Jina, was accidentally shot by 16-year-old Jordyn Howe while riding on the school bus in 2012.
"It's important we recognize this and fight to make sure it doesn't happen again," said State Representative Eduardo Gonzalez.
On Wednesday, a portion of South Dixie Highway between SW 296th Street and SW 288th Street was named Lourdes Guzman-DeJesus Street. The teen lived in Homestead.
"Gun safety is a critical priority for all parents, educators, students, and community members of District 117 that demands adequate discussion," said Representative Kionne McGhee.
The street naming, Representative McGhee said in a statement, "should serve as a continual reminder of the promising life that was lost and the immediate need for a local collaborative effort to eliminate the unnecessary destruction of any others."
Ady Guzman-DeJesus hopes her daughter's name will raise awareness and prompt gun owners to double check their gun is in a safe place--away from kids and teens.
"They are going to see her name and remember I have something in my house, so let me go put it away in a safe place and make sure I check it every morning because kids are going to be kids," Ady Guzman-DeJesus said.
Ronald Book, the attorney for the Guzman-DeJesus family, agrees with the teen's mother, hoping the street-naming will help the teen to live-on forever and that it will call attention to the issue of gun violence in an effort to better protect children.
"We cannot lose the opportunity to take a tragic loss and make certain that we make the community safer for others," Book said.
Howe was charged as an adult with manslaughter, possession of a firearm and possession of a concealed weapon for the shooting.
READ: Teen Takes Plea Deal In Deadly School Bus Shooting
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