Do you know who shot and killed 16-year-old Ariel Velasco? In the quiet town of Boardman, Oregon, a life was tragically cut short on the evening of December 18, 2010. Ariel Velasco, a 16-year-old Hispanic male, was walking with two friends along Anderson Road, heading to a party around 7:45 p.m. Their path was suddenly blocked by five individuals dressed in dark, hooded clothing. Fearing they were about to be jumped, the three friends turned and ran.
In the ensuing chaos, gunshots rang out.
Ariel cried out that he had been hit but continued to run for a short distance before collapsing. His 19-year-old friend, Juan Pellez, rushed to his side, holding him as he struggled to speak, seemingly choking on his own blood. Pellez spotted a police car and called for help. An ambulance was dispatched, and Ariel was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. He was the youngest of four siblings, having two older brothers and a sister.
The investigation into the murder of Ariel Velasco was launched by the Boardman Police Department with assistance from the Morrow/Umatilla County Major Crimes Team. From the outset, authorities stated their belief that the homicide was possibly gang-related. Boardman's police chief at the time, John Zeiler, asserted that it was an act of gang violence and not a random incident, specifying that it was a conflict between two groups. This assertion was supported by the Morrow County District Attorney, Justin Nelson, who also pointed to evidence from Velasco's MySpace page that suggested gang association.
However, Ariel's family and friends vehemently denied that he was involved in any gang activity. Pellez described his friend as a "good guy" who was friendly and got along with everyone. The Velasco family also voiced their frustrations with the Boardman Police Department, claiming they were being unfairly targeted and harassed, and urged the police to focus on finding the person responsible for their son's death. In the days following the shooting, police had not made any arrests and had not identified any suspects, although they indicated they had "some suspicions." The investigation was described as progressing slowly, with authorities appealing to the public for any witnesses to come forward. As of late December 2010, the shooter remained at large, and no arrests had been announced in connection with the murder of Ariel Velasco.
