On February 25, 2018, my son Javier “Poloface” Chavez was pumping gas at a store. Someone called out his name. As he turned around to see who it was, he was shot four times in the back. His friend drove him to the hospital. Doctors rushed him into surgery for three hours only to come out to say that he would not live. We had 45 minutes to say goodbye. My son was 25 years old. Left three daughters behind and his girlfriend. I couldn’t believe it. I had just lost my second son.
The people who shot him got away. He died in our hands, as we were saying goodbye to him. Doctor said he might be able to hear us. As I held his head, I kept telling him please don’t leave me, please don’t leave us, I need you, I love you, please son, don’t die. Doctor checked his heart, and he was gone. Now I had to bury my second baby. My first son was 15 years old when he shot himself in the head. His name was Marcus. My only two sons gone. I now have started a group called Mothers Against Gun Violence.