DeAngelo Monteza Meriweather, a 21-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on October 19, 2019, in El Paso, Texas. Meriweather, who was a specialist in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Bliss, was attending a house party in central El Paso when a fight broke out. During the altercation, Joseph Anthony Rocha, a 17-year-old Hispanic male, allegedly fired a gun in different directions, striking several people at the party.
Meriweather was one of the victims and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Rocha was later taken into custody and charged with murder. He was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $1 million bond.
Meriweather had joined the Army in March 2017 and had been stationed at Fort Bliss since January 2018. He had recently returned from a deployment to South Korea. His awards and decorations included the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Korea Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Rifle Marksmanship Badge. The incident also resulted in injuries to four other individuals: Asia Knight, 21, of El Paso; Juan Mata, 18, of Fabens; Kevin Marincuellar, 19, of Fort Bliss; and Markendy Dessources, 22, of Fort Bliss.
The investigation revealed that Rocha had barricaded himself inside a residence after the shooting and live-streamed himself before surrendering to the police. The El Paso Police Department's SWAT team responded to the scene and successfully negotiated Rocha's surrender without further incident. The details of the event are still under investigation, and the authorities are working to gather more information about the circumstances leading up to the shooting. Meriweather's family, friends, and fellow soldiers at Fort Bliss mourned his untimely death and remembered him for his dedication and service to his country.
