Jonathan Val, 17

Who was Jonathan Val that someone would do such a horrifying thing to him as shooting him several times in the chest AND near the Metro station no less where gainfully employed and other responsibles assemble to ride their train!!! May Jonathan rest in peace. And the killers will be caught, I can see this!!!

It's so sad to see that these low-life gang-bangers have "NO MERCY ON NO ONE", then they go about life like it's okay to go around just killing innocent people, because they're so much of cowards to take their fight to where the other gang-bangers are. I really wonder how many of these illiterate low-life bottom of the bucket scum bags could fight with no weapons, and be the big bad ass they perpetrate to be without their homies by their side, because "Real Men" don't need weapons to fight. "So it looks like we have a bunch of sissies that go around killing innocent people, because they can't fight, and scare if they ran up on the wrong person they would get whooped badly like the sissies they are". I'm Just Say'n....

its incredible we can't educate or even control a bunch of teenagers with all our technology. It's a failure. and i'm worried because i think it should be a global concern: this is starting to happen in Europe as well. What can we do?

Yes its sucks to lose your life, but at the same time these kids dont learn that this is what happens in gang life. Check this kids myspace he was a highland park gang-member and obviously proud of it. Idiots is what they are, every last one of them.

Darren H, if what you say is true, then no tears should be shed.

He chose a violent lifestyle and suffered the consequences for it.

You hit it on the head Darren. It was only a matter of time for the loser. And only a matter of time for the losers that shot him.

i knew jonathan since 4th grade. when his little brother told me what had happened i couldnt believe it. but know hes in a better place.he will always be in our hearts and in our mind. all prayers to him and his family.

jonthan val
1/17/92 - 4/28/10
gone but never fogotten

sit with these kids and hear their stories before you spit out your judgements. these are children. yes, many of them have made poor decisions, however, they are children. so sad. now i sit with this boy's loved one and help him grieve, and learn.

I agree with human, and Mr. Darren, yes the boy from Highland Park gang, choose his people, and we here in HP have had gangs and more gangs Avenues the hole lot of them in there clicks keep up there shootings like all the gangs. No need to talk badly of Jon Val. his slate is wiped clean now. Sachi...

How do you know he was a gang member???

Please dont make excuses for these thug cowards, and i dont want to sit with them and learn of their life, i've had a hard life myself and a family in gangs, never did i resort to following their path, they know exactly what they're getting themselves into, they want to intimadate and be feared, well then they get what they deserve, i've lost family from gang violence, it'll never make sense, we are the ones that end up hurting while they lay dead, or either they're out there killing or being plain stupid, do you think they think of the innocent people or kids they slay in a drive by or tagging up your property walls, i highly doubt that, they are scum of the earth, they're fighting for turf that doesnt even belong to them, all im saying is i dont weep for them, to many innocent people are taken by these low lifes, so say what you will, i hope your family never has to deal with the pain of losing someone at their hands and yet given short sentences or never even caught, so the murders continue.

Since DH you have lost family to gang violence,had been smart not to get into a gang,don't need to "sit" with them gang bangers. Then why ? do you talk badly of them those scum of the earth?
Your remarks tell alot about your inward BS. maybe you want to carry a gun and do some of your own silent shooting? OH yes mister I have lost loved ones in the prisons. I know all to well what the life style brings and myself did not get "into" the gang life as I was asked to back in the day. Don't act so pure. like your S___ don't smell..Sachi

oh please.... im not here to be self rightous, but at the same time im not out in the world to hurt others, that i know for sure regardless to what you may think, i also dont go destroying peoples property or out to put people in danger with the stupidness that comes along with being a criminal gang member, i dont go around dogging people out and i dont carry a gun, and i also dont feel the need to stoop to their level and go out and kill, thats not what i teach my kids either, but rather to beware of them, they bring down the value of life, because they dont give a crap about who they hurt, be it there family whether or not they grew up in the gang life....yada yada yada same @$$ excuses "well this is all i know" and thats exactly what it is "excuses" i've been to the bottom but willed myself back up, i come from just about nothing aswell, so there for i am not holier than thou, where in your right mind do you see it okay, when innocent children are killed by a stray bullet or even intended for them because their mom are dad are rivals, sounds like you have much love for them, well then continue it but you aint helping any cause.

Jonathan rest in peace.and god please make his mom strong please help her god.please who ever is making stupid comments stop this family is in pain.

to some they may be stupid comments, and to others like me we're sick and tired and fed up with gangs and their violence in our neighborhoods, sickof hearing the helicopters circle round and round, if people dont like it well then take the time to teach your kids better.

you guys are ALL DUMB for making these STUPID ASS coments.....Rest In Paradise JONATHAN VAL *

N.M; I suppose you're a gangster too.

Nobody deserves to die so violently and at such a young age. I feel sad for Jonathan, his family, his friends and the whole community.

Many parents and community members need to provide their children with more support and guidance.

I volunteer as a mentor for a high school student and tutor foster children because I especially care about young people. Showing them (and all people) love and respect will create better, safer communities and prevent such senseless killings from occurring.

Rest in peace, Jonathan.

R.I.P. Jonathan-I did not know him or his family, I just think that at such a young age his family should not have to say goodbye. I realize that many of us including myself,feel like oh well if they are gang members then it's okay for them to be shot down and killed. The reality is this: If we have no concern for the "gang member" who is killed then we are all in danger of this death too. If we don't find a solution to this violence that comes from the gang lifestyle soon it will take one of our innocent loved ones, they are getting stronger and they are taking over our communities. Places where people wanted to live to escape the crime and the gangs have now got the gangs in there communities ( Lancaster, Torrance, Redondo Beach..etc) There is nowhere to hide- This has got to stop- It may seem like it is only in the low income high crime areas but trust me they are in every city and they can and will get to you. We need a solution to stop this now!!

If this young man truly was in the highland park gang, then he made his bed and now he can sleep in it. Don't for one second think a 17 year old gang member can't hurt and even kill. I agree with Fed Up, some of us in society have had enough of this crap. What can be done? Well for starters, its time to identify and publish who these knuckle heads are. Where are the gangs exactly and who specifically is each known member. Then run em the hell off. Don't rent to them. If you're a parent, throw them out on their asses until they learn to grow up. Simply put, we as a society need to go zero tolerance on their very existence and shun them like the scourge they are. The problem of course is too many of us actually think this macho gang banging crap is kind of cool, kind of tough. You enable them and even encourage them which is foolishness.

— Citizenjohn, I would add the following: Early preventive detention for those youngsters that are gangsters in all but name only and keep them in a juvenile camp for as long as necessary. Immediate deportation of any gangster if they are illegal, with exceptionally harsh punishment if they reenter the country.

Cut down the numbers of illegals so the urban overcrowding and school system deteriation is stopped.

No more "free trade" so as to make sure we all have jobs that pay a decent wage.

Change the makeups of the city councils, county supervisors and gerrymandered state districts so we have reprentatives who can get things done instead of blame-blame-blame.

I can go on with many others. But the sad truth is many different aspects of this problem has to be addressed simultaneously.

i was close to jonathan i will never want to see both of my brothers fight darren h is stupid he doesnt know my brother he didnt know what my brother wanted my brother will take care of me and my other little brothers my brother will follow my other brother anthony he wouldnt let nothing happen to him in loving memory jonathan
1/17/93-4/28/2010
i love u

Hey Lil Bro.

Is ur and jonathan's dad named Tony Val.

syscom3,dh, why the hell are u lames talking crap about gangs u dont know nada u guys think u know wats up sometimes the gang lifes all u got like me my mom left me wen i was 5 my dads dead i live with friends but i aint crying like a b**ch this is to remember my homeboy not for u lames to put ur own two cents in it and DH its not excuses it the truth..so and that note ...PARK IN HEAVEN PRIMO

So now we have park life here claiming "sometimes the gang lifes all u got". What a load of bullshxt. Hey park life, and I'm guessing that is in reference to this pathetic highland park gang, why don't you quit making excuses for your irresponsible self destructive behavior and go carve out a respectable and responsible life for yourself. Go get some training, which is available at every community college, go get an honest job and get moving in life. There is NEVER any excuse for joining or remaining in a criminal gang, all you will find is misery and death. Why don't you take a long hard look at what happened to your little homey cause that's where you are headed soon.

— park life
As long as there are gangs wrecking society, I will continue to speak out.

Hey I Knew Jonathan And His Brother Since Forever And It sucks cause I would ALWAYS Tell Him To Leave That Gang Life Behind! Him And His Brother Would Never Listen To me!
Its messed up cause He was a Very Close Friend To Me!
He would always come and kick It!
If you dont know him please just dont speak on it! I Miss Him And When I Found Out I was Like"I Told Him To Get Out Of That Stupid Stuff"! He was My Close Perro..I Aint Gang Affiliated AnyMore Cause I've Lost Alot of My Friends Do To Gang Shootings!
I Also Use To Be In A Gang MySelf!
HighLand Park Gang Aint Even Known On The Map!
I've quit my Ways Cause I Am Not Gonna Die Over Some Stupid Letters Of A Hood! 1.:ESE NEEDS:.3

R.I.P JONATHAN. my your soul find what you were searching for here on earth. peace.... NOW as for everyone else. find an other place to post your debates on gang and whos' right n wrong. REMENBER one day you will walk in shoes you never thought you would and one day god will make you understand what you think your better than.! becareful because god will make u understand. that goes for gang member too .

this is the parents fault they see the friends he keeps the cloths he wears staying out late his myspace page proclaiming his gang ties and yet they still cry for him and ask why ....talk about drop the ball like I said bad parents.

DH and citizenjohn, I completely agree with you. The only people supporting this guy are other gang members. If this guy was a gang member he probably did the same thing to someone else and this is his punishment. I am just tired of the gangs in HP, I want to be able to walk in my neighborhood and not worry about people like jonathan Val.

— sickandtired, ..... "I am just tired of the gangs in HP, I want to be able to walk in my neighborhood and not worry about people like jonathan Val."

Remember what you just wrote this election day. Stop voting the same do nothing politicians. Begin to support people who will deliver on their promises.

syscom3 - I wish it was that easy. All politians say the same things and promise the same things and do nothing. How can you possibly know? What polition do you know that delivers on his/her promises?

I dont even know how to start but Ill tell you these people that believe that they can rule the streets they are nothing but parasite 2 years ago my Son had to safe his life, a very smart student just because he didn't joing the gang he was sentence for dead by a low life gang banger,if you go and tell that to the police its worse for every body even for the Family.Why??? why do we have to let that happen???I dont know if this poor Kid died in similar circunmstances or someone was avenging someone else ??

Its about to be one year jon and I miss you everyday a lot.Babe why you some people dont know you like I do babe I miss you a lot and Ilove you a lot jonathan.All of our memories are in my heart and you took a piece of my heart but i kept a piece of your heart love.I LOVE YOU babe remember in h.s "LETS GO DRAGONS LETS GO LOL"May you rest in peace amor(and yes he was my bf)

No one deserves to be killed, robbed, molested, burgled, battered in any way. But it happens. And who does it? They make poor choices. All the money poured into antigang violence, prisons, Pell Grants, local clubs has done little to curb the violence. Commiserating them for making poor choices is not an option.

The "kid" knew what the end result would be for joining a gang. Don't give them excuses, he chose the path and it led him to his death. And, no I don't care to talk to gagnsters and hear how bad they had it and how they needed to turn to violence and intimidation to make themselves feel better or feel part of a family, PLEASE... I'm sure there were plenty of people he victimized before his death because that's what gangsters do...victimize and control neighborhoods for self gratification and power. I don't feel for them one bit, I feel for the parents who hopefully tried to provide a good example. Gang members are as low life as you can get. I don't wish death on anyone, but rather they kill themselves than an innocent kid playing in the front yard.

////DH and citizenjohn, I completely agree with you. The only people supporting this guy are other gang members. If this guy was a gang member he probably did the same thing to someone else and this is his punishment.\\\\\

I was born and raised in Highland Park. I am not a gang member. DH and citizenjohn, if you think I'm on "your side" (whatever that means) you're as crazy as you sound.
You don't have to be on "a side," to have empathy, to have a soul, to think of a 17 year old young man who is gone too soon with a heavy heart. It doesn't matter the circumstance, it is a sad thing.
Because of growing up in HP, I was inspired to actually DO SOMETHING to help out my community (oh, and writing speeches behind the comforts of a computer screen doesn't count, ok guys?). I became a therapist and now work with young adults who are on probation or are ex-foster youth.
Instead of wasting space on this young man's obituary page saying such disrespectful things, why don't you start up your own crappy blog and drum up your own traffic instead of forcing us to read all this "stuff" you feel is relevant.
To the Val family and to his friends - I'm sorry for your loss, I'm sure you still miss him even now. It sounds like he was trying to something better by working - who knows what was in store for him. Hopefully his friends will create a better legacy and prove these jokers wrong.
Descanse en Paz.

— Born & Raised; this is not the obituaries, this is the homicide blog. This is where people can say what they want about the most ugly of crimes.

And since when has the truth been considered "disrespectful"? Maybe some of gangsters and their enablers are hearing the truth for the first time in their lives.

"oh, and writing speeches behind the comforts of a computer screen doesn't count, ok guys?" ..... modern technology has given a voice to people have never been given the chance to be heard.

Syscom3-
The fact that this is a Homocide Blog doesn't mean it's a free for all for every Tom, Dick and Harry to speak "the truth." Your "truth" and my "truth," are obviously different and yes, I believe many of you are completely disrespectful and are projecting your feelings of frustration about current gang issues on this young man.

And for that I will say again - action speaks louder then words - get out there and do something about it and stop complaining - whatever "doing something" means to you.

Talk is cheap and complainers are just as annoying to me as taggers are to you.

Amazing how we tend to make saints out of sinners. I too live in Hp. I am also sick and tired of the daily graffiti ridden walls that I have to drive through. HP, Ave's and DT want to take control of the streets of HP. Well there is a price to pay....have at it. Terrorize each other not the law abiding citizens. I am in Law Enforcement and fortunately for me I get to carry a firearm to fend for myself. I feel for the true victims at the hands of these thugs. I work in the hardest of hoods so believe me I know how these clowns think. Don't get me wrong, I really believe that everyone deserves a second chance. But until you make a complete change, you run a risk of being "caught trippin." They know this....casualties of turf war....

no kidding. if you have so much anger toward the gang lifestyle then do something to change it. i work day in and day out in the probation camps trying to help these young men change their lifestyles, but it seems that you just complain on this blog. do something or quit your complaining!

Park life..........
We are 10 brothers and sisters and we were taken care of by my mom she woked 2 jobs and put us through school and some through collage, we had food,shoes, cloths a roof and a warm bed. we wore used cloths and shoes and never ate at school my mom made us breakfast lunch and dinner every day. We didn't have a father. We had a choice to go to school and work or to join a gang that would show us to steal,kill and to use drugs to cll them our family that they show you what they call love...... BS it bring death,jail it brings sadness to families. You parents are not the blame you are the one that makes that choice. Do something and change your life. My children are loved and had been educated they too could have taken a differnt road and they chose to live a good life and education. As for my mother she is 89 and I thank her for showing me to love and to be love. We love her. we thank her for making us good citizens.
I didn't need a father. we are all greatful that she show us love,respect and being a hard worker. It was up to us to make a choice of what we wanted for our self and our children

Mr. or Ms. None,

In what capacity do you try to teach this youngsters a different way to life? And while you are at it what is your success ratio? I mean I only see the out come the revolving door what or how do you measure success?

— syscom3
Hopefully you know that those aren't the real gang names, but disrespects to them.

I knew jonathan val since 4 grade he was such nice kid.I know he made some bad chooses but doesnt mean thoses guys had the right to take his life away.I kant believe those guys that did that to him i kouldnt believe my jonathan was shot & killed. Till this day i just think its all a dream and i kant wake up from it. All i have from him is pure good memories(: One thing ill never forget is he'll call everyone "mija!"

— v.g .... do you have any feelings for the people and neighborhood that Mr. Val and his fellow gangsters have terrorized?

And why should you be surprised or upset about him being shot? He chose a lifestyle that was violent and pyschopathic.

he was from highland park so the avenues shot n killed him

Just another reminder to parents to educate your children and keep them off the streets.

i new him ever since elementry skool. we lived close by. he ws a funny person. some one that i know had a peace in the north east march just for him. and also for another friend i know . weather he wasin a bad life or good no one shud die like this weather you hate the personn.. no one should even say anything bad abt him. watch when something like that happens to some one close you know ansd you hear all theses bad negative comments how will you feel?? am shure yu"ll eat your own words... am just saying

— shyly ... twelve spelling errors and numerous grammatical and punctuation issues.

Are you in school? You know how to communicate to the world?

And I can guarantee that a huge majority of people have nothing to do with gangs and their violent lifestyle. That is why it is hard to conjure any sympathy for the deceased.

Is really sad to see all this young kids, dying over some City , or a Street, that doesn't belong to them ... Is it really worth it... please kids if you read this open up your eyes ... and make a change before is to late .

We all love u miss u ur was the best one I are never going stop thing about u and I know that we almost like the some we are like each other and i wish time could go back put donot I will be one day with u so we can see each other agin and I wish it was me not u <3