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Family, Friends Gather For Vigil To Remember 15-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shot

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A mother and father in Miami-Dade are grieving after their 15-year-old son was killed in a shooting at a party over the weekend.

Police said Angel Cueli was killed Saturday at around 11 p.m. at a party held in the 20200 block of SW 132nd Avenue.

Monday, loved ones and friends gathered for a vigil.

The victim's father spoke while trying to hold back tears.

"My son was ahead of his time. My son was not really from here. His journey was short because he had a higher mission," Alfred Cueli said.

Friends of the teen held a banner that had "Long Live Angel" written on it outside a Westchester Catholic Church.

Investigators say guests had gathered on the side of a Southwest Miami-Dade home when an unknown subject approached the house on foot and opened fire multiple times toward the guests striking Cueli.

Witnesses told police the shooter then ran to a black sedan and fled the area.

Cueli was airlifted to Kendall Regional Trauma Center, where he later died. No one else was injured during the shooting.

"No mother wants to lose her son, whether they're young or whether they're old, and definitely not when they are young. No mother should have to bury her son," said Angel's mother Patricia Huergo.

"They took his life and it ended up being the only one out of a whole party," she added.

"He became a target so everyone else could live," said Angel's father.

Police say Cueili was not the intended target.

"It was a simple, stupid, idiotic, drive-by shooting. There's no worse way to go, I can't believe that," said Cueli told CBS4's Peter D'Oench.

"My son was me, he was me, he was me physically, he was me mentally, he was me emotionally, and he was one extra thing. He was born, his potential for an amazing and strong life has been eliminated in this world," he added.

Cueili's parents said he was a ninth-grader at Miami Coral Park Senior High School. They added that he had just transferred there about three weeks ago.

"I was really devastated to hear that this happened because I can't believe the stuff that is happening to be honest," said ninth-grader Gabriel Maldonado.

Yeshua Salgado, another 9th grader and a friend of the victim, said "It hurts because you spend time with him and get to know that person."

9th grader Juan Cabrera said "He was a really good student and a nice young man."

Cueli said Angel was an honors student who one day wanted to become an architect.

"Dig deep into that light, that may not be shining bright right now, and open your heart and help bring Angel justice, Cueli said.

Angel's parents are urging anyone with information on their son's murder to contact the police or Crime Stoppers.

"Anybody that you know, anything that you saw, any little thing helps," said Huergo.

Cueli hopes someone who was at the party can help the police.

"It should not be hard to find the people through social media who are the individuals responsible for that," he said. "Whoever did it, your time is short, and to parents, kiss your kids, hug your kids, and don't be scared to tell them no because that may be the last time that you see them."

Miami-Dade Schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho tweeted on Sunday "Thoughts and prayers will do little to bring solace or alleviate the gut-wrenching pain being felt today by the family of the teen killed last night during a Halloween party. What may bring them comfort? Finding the persons responsible. If you know, saw or heard something, speak up."

If you have information on the shooting, police want to hear from you at (305)471-TIPS (8477) or (866) 471-8477.

There's a reward of up to $3,000.

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