Eduardo Galileo Oceja, an 18-year-old Hispanic male, was a lively and playful young man known for his beautiful smile and a boisterous laugh that could fill a room. To his family, he was affectionately 'Lalo,' and to his friends, he was 'Guacho.' Though he faced challenges in his young life, he had aspirations of returning to his education by enrolling in a GED program, hoping to build a future as a strong and educated man. His plans and his life, however, were tragically cut short on the night of October 30, 2022, in Memphis, Tennessee.
On that evening, Eduardo was found lying in a parking lot on the 3900 block of Park Avenue, suffering from critical gunshot wounds. Emergency services rushed him to St. Francis Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. The incident that claimed his life was a violent exchange of gunfire in the parking lot. Three other individuals were also injured during the shooting.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing an 18-year-old named Peter Vaca, along with others, inside a vehicle that was involved in the shootout with a group of four men in the parking lot. Following an investigation that utilized surveillance footage and witness statements, police were able to track Vaca to his residence. There, they located the vehicle that was implicated in the shooting.
Peter Vaca was subsequently arrested and faced serious charges for his alleged role in the fatal event. He was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Eduardo Galileo Oceja and three counts of attempted first-degree murder for the injuries sustained by the other victims. The legal proceedings against Vaca began, with an initial court appearance scheduled shortly after his arrest. Eduardo is remembered lovingly by his father, four sisters, and two nephews, who deeply miss his tight hugs and his ability to make everyone around him laugh.
