MINNEAPOLIS — "Gabriel was doing security at the Firehouse across the street on October 16," said Katrina Mendoza on Saturday night. "He was outside doing protections, and someone shot him in his neck."
Gabriel Mendoza was only 23 years old when he was struck by gunfire outside his job. Now months later, and after spending their first holiday season without Gabriel, his family is left with few answers.
"The police are investigating; we know there are no leads," she said. "We contact them every week. We started flyering the community; people are taking them down."
Mendoza says the family has decided to seek justice on their own.
This weekend, they displayed an LED truck advertising the new $10,000 reward on behalf of Gabriel's family.
"Our community came together and really raised the funds to do something, and we want to make the point we are not going anywhere," she said. "There were hundreds of people there that night, everybody had video cameras their phones out, and somebody knows something."
"He loved so many people; the funds that helped us do this was love from the people," said his father, Edward Garcia.
They're all working to keep Gabriel's memory alive.
"He is not just number 71," said Mendoza, referencing the number of Gabriel's homicide in Minneapolis last year. "We're not going anywhere and this isn't going to stop," said Garcia.
The family is pleading for anyone with information to come forward.
In addition to the family's reward offering, CrimeStoppers tips resulting in a felony arrest for this case may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. Tips and information can be submitted at this website.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities in our YouTube playlist: