The young couple had spent the evening at the hospital, where Ramona's sister had given birth that day. They had left their 2-year-old daughter, Yelena, at her grandparents' house — a tidy yellow-and-green home on North 17th Street in Kansas City, Kansas. Yelena was an affectionate child who earned the nickname "La Choky" because of her tendency to hug her dad, Fernando, tightly around his neck. She met her parents at the door when they got back a little after 9:30 p.m.
Ramona, a soft-spoken 23-year-old with a porcelain face and blond-streaked hair, sat on the couch in the living room. She watched Yelena as she played on the floor in front of the entertainment center, munching on a tortilla. The protective mother asked the toddler to stop playing with a glass statue in the shape of praying hands that her grandma kept on the shelf.
Then came the noise. The frightened family heard a series of loud blasts coming from the entryway. They didn't know it was a hail of bullets from a gunman standing at their front gate.
Ramona started screaming. Fernando ran from the kitchen. Yelena crumpled to the ground.
Carlos Moreno, Ramona's brother, had been watching TV in his bedroom. The 21-year-old recognized the sound of shotgun fire. He darted out of his room. He saw his niece holding her head in the entryway. He crawled to retrieve her. Keeping low, he pulled Yelena to a back room, leaving a trail of blood smeared on the hardwood floor.
Fernando grabbed his daughter from Carlos. He didn't realize she was hurt until his right arm started to feel hot and wet. Under her long black hair, Yelena had been struck just below her left ear. The wound bled onto her father's shoulder. She was still breathing and her eyes were open, but she didn't respond when her parents spoke to her.
Ramona called 911, but she was terrified that the paramedics wouldn't come in time. She wanted to drive to the hospital herself. "But — I don't know why — I couldn't touch Yelena," she says. "I was afraid she would die in my arms."
They waited in a bedroom in the back of the house, listening for the sound of sirens. Ramona couldn't understand why her brother, Carlos, wouldn't give her a hug.
"I'm sorry," Carlos said. "It's my fault. It's my fault."
When the ambulance arrived, Fernando rushed outside with Yelena in his arms. The front porch was sprinkled with shattered glass. As he passed through the chain-link fence at the end of the yard, he didn't notice the five red-tipped shotgun shells partly hidden in the foliage near the sidewalk. Ramona jumped in the back of the ambulance and asked Yelena to stay with her.
Once the ambulance took off toward Children's Mercy Hospital, Fernando cornered his brother-in-law. He knew his in-laws didn't have problems with anybody. He knew his family had no reason to be targeted.
"Who did this, man?" Fernando asked.
"The FLs," Carlos said.
The FLs were members of a gang called Familia Loca. Carlos was part of rival gang Florencia 13. For nearly a decade, Kansas City, Kansas, police have been monitoring street robberies and drive-by shootings connected to Hispanic gangs. But in 2007, the violence between F13 and Familia Loca escalated. Their battles weren't confined to the streets but aimed at each other's homes.
And last April, an innocent 2-year-old got caught in the crossfire.
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damn that aint right to lose a daughter i feel sad for your lost keep hanging in there carlos y ramona te acompano en el sentimiento love to your daughter shell alwys be remember peace
fuck you punk ass pussies yall aint gz u foos jst sum punk wannabes diss es mks harbor area on mine killin a baby nd shiit yea u foos down....sike punk ass foos
i know i did alot of bad things in my life but this is what im best at i will always be f13 por vida
its crazy cuz i use to be from florencia 13 nhd gang to be honest it was koo at first bu then it got harder i now noe what i did was wrong i really do i would fight for a place that was never mine to begin with and i was fighting for a color that shouldnt even matter a gang aint no game it really isnt i made so many mistakes that i wish that god kan for give me one day and tell me everything is okay and that i love u no matter what i kant live with all this pain i have in side even thow i hurt my rivels i wish i kan go bak and say im sorry yelena was the reason i lef the gang wen i saw her ther just f***** KILLED ME i just cryed my eyes out like nothing just seeing carlos and ramona and fernando crying over ther baby made me realize that its not worth it losing the ppl u love over some dum shyt dam i just wish it didnt have to end thiz way and with lil yelena she was just a lil baby well thats it for me i kant ake take thiz i just want to fucken cry im sorry i love u yelena muahh
dam i member the day i saw u yelena dam mija we miss u and i kant believe ur gone i saw ur 2 lil brotherz befor i kame to colorado i saw ur mommy andur daddy and fernando and ur new lil brother they r so cute mija dam i member wen i saw u in ur lil princess dress u looked so cute mama it hurt me to c u laying there sleeping i new u were gone an i wass so mad i wanted to do some but i couldnt baby i miss u and ur uncle carlos and i hope u watching over us baby i member u from the bottom of my heart and i will never forget that day i gave u a kiss good bye mija we love u and muahhz i gave u a kiss for u and hope u haveing a blast up ther bye
its crazy cuz i use to be from florencia 13 nhd gang to be honest it was koo at first bu then it got harder i now noe what i did was wrong i really do i would fight for a place that was never mine to begin with and i was fighting for a color that shouldnt even matter a gang aint no game it really isnt i made so many mistakes that i wish that god kan for give me one day and tell me everything is okay and that i love u no matter what i kant live with all this pain i have in side even thow i hurt my rivels i wish i kan go bak and say im sorry yelena was the reason i lef the gang wen i saw her ther just f***** KILLED ME i just cryed my eyes out like nothing just seeing carlos and ramona and fernando crying over ther baby made me realize that its not worth it losing the ppl u love over some dum shyt dam i just wish it didnt have to end thiz way and with lil yelena she was just a lil baby well thats it for me i kant ake take thiz i just want to fucken cry im sorry i love u yelena muahh
dam i member the day i saw u yelena dam mija we miss u and i kant believe ur gone i saw ur 2 lil brotherz befor i kame to colorado i saw ur mommy andur daddy and fernando and ur new lil brother they r so cute mija dam i member wen i saw u in ur lil princess dress u looked so cute mama it hurt me to c u laying there sleeping i new u were gone an i wass so mad i wanted to do some but i couldnt baby i miss u and ur uncle carlos and i hope u watching over us baby i member u from the bottom of my heart and i will never forget that day i gave u a kiss good bye mija we love u and muahhz i gave u a kiss for u and hope u haveing a blast up ther bye
iTS S4D T0 KN0W TH4T Y3T 4N0TH3R F4MiLY HURTS D0 T0 TH3S3 CHiLDiSH G4M3S. F4MiLY iS F4MiLY N0 M4TT3R H0W Y0U PUT iT, 4LL Y0U Y0UNG T33NS SH0ULDNT H4V3 T0 L34V3 Y0UR H0M3S T0 FiND WH4T Y4'LL C4LL A F4MiLY iN TH3 STR33TS. iTS H4RD T0 L0S3 4 CHiLD T0 TH3 STR33TS 4ND 3V3N M0R3 WH3N iTS A CHiLD TH4T H4D N0 P4RT iN TH4T THUGGiSH W0RLD. i F33L F0R Y3L3NA'S (CH0KY'Z) F4MiLY M0R3 TH4N i D0 MiN3... TH3 S4YiN G0'S "0NLY G0D C4N JUDG3 M3", && iTS TRU3... BUT DNT T4K3 iT T0 H34RT WH3N TH3 THiNGS Y0UR D0iNG 4R3 C4USiNG INN0C3NT P30PL3 TH3iR LiV3S... S0 MY H34RT G0'Z 0UT T0 CH0KY && H3R F4MiLY... && 4S F0R MiN3,. LUiS Y0UR F4MiLY BUT W3 B0TH N0 Y0U FUK3D UP 0N3 W4Y 0R 4N0TH3R,. M4NY S4Y Y0U D3S3RV3 T0 R0T iN Y0UR C3LL,. M4YB3 Y0U SHOULD, M4YB3 Y0U SH0ULDNT BUT TH3N 4G4iNG WH0 4M i T0 JUDG3 Y0U, iF N0T G0D... TH3 0NLY THiNG i C4N D0 F0R Y0U N0W iS PR4Y TH4T WH4T3V3R H4PP3NS Y0UR iN G0D'S H4NDS.
._*'R.i.P’*_.
.*Y3L3N4 GUZM4N*.
iTS S4D T0 KN0W TH4T Y3T 4N0TH3R F4MiLY HURTS D0 T0 TH3S3 CHiLDiSH G4M3S. F4MiLY iS F4MiLY N0 M4TT3R H0W Y0U PUT iT, 4LL Y0U Y0UNG T33NS SH0ULDNT H4V3 T0 L34V3 Y0UR H0M3S T0 FiND WH4T Y4'LL C4LL A F4MiLY iN TH3 STR33TS. iTS H4RD T0 L0S3 4 CHiLD T0 TH3 STR33TS 4ND 3V3N M0R3 WH3N iTS A CHiLD TH4T H4D N0 P4RT iN TH4T THUGGiSH W0RLD. i F33L F0R Y3L3NA'S (CH0KY'Z) F4MiLY M0R3 TH4N i D0 MiN3... TH3 S4YiN G0'S "0NLY G0D C4N JUDG3 M3", && iTS TRU3... BUT DNT T4K3 iT T0 H34RT WH3N TH3 THiNGS Y0UR D0iNG 4R3 C4USiNG INN0C3NT P30PL3 TH3iR LiV3S... S0 MY H34RT G0'Z 0UT T0 CH0KY && H3R F4MiLY... && 4S F0R MiN3,. LUiS Y0UR F4MiLY BUT W3 B0TH N0 Y0U FUK3D UP 0N3 W4Y 0R 4N0TH3R,. M4NY S4Y Y0U D3S3RV3 T0 R0T iN Y0UR C3LL,. M4YB3 Y0U SHOULD, M4YB3 Y0U SH0ULDNT BUT TH3N 4G4iNG WH0 4M i T0 JUDG3 Y0U, iF N0T G0D... TH3 0NLY THiNG i C4N D0 F0R Y0U N0W iS PR4Y TH4T WH4T3V3R H4PP3NS Y0UR iN G0D'S H4NDS. ._*'R.i.P’*_. .*Y3L3N4 GUZM4N*.
LUIS AND DANIEL DESERVE THE CONSEQUENCE THEY GOT FOR WHAT THEY DID....THEY NEED TO BE LOCKEE UP FOR KILLING A VERY BEAUTIFUL CHILD LIKE YELENA..... MY HEART GOES TO THE PARENTS....AND I HOPE THAT LUIS AND DANIEL ROT IN JAIL
LUIS AND DANIEL DESERVE THE CONSEQUENCE THEY GOT FOR WHAT THEY DID....THEY NEED TO BE LOCKEE UP FOR KILLING A VERY BEAUTIFUL CHILD LIKE YELENA..... MY HEART GOES TO THE PARENTS....AND I HOPE THAT LUIS AND DANIEL ROT IN JAIL
Luis and Daniel keep ur head up cause will be waiting for u 2 come bak home.......much love to Luis nd Daniel
Luis and Daniel keep ur head up cause will be waiting for u 2 come bak home.......much love to Luis nd Daniel
Very heartbreaking......NOONE WINS these ongoing wars/battles. Everyone loses, everyone!! The young teens will now have to spend most of their lives in jail if not their whole life. The child missed out on her life, her parents wake up to heartache everyday wishing Yelena was still with them. The families of the teens hurt as well. Even the readers have compassion and feel for these families.
All because our teens want to try and act cool and impress their friends. The good Lord is the only one who can fill the void in our young teens hearts. The streets will never fill that void and emptiness. It's God who will get Yelenas parents through such a difficult time. He will bring them the peace and strength that they need.
Very heartbreaking......NOONE WINS these ongoing wars/battles. Everyone loses, everyone!! The young teens will now have to spend most of their lives in jail if not their whole life. The child missed out on her life, her parents wake up to heartache everyday wishing Yelena was still with them. The families of the teens hurt as well. Even the readers have compassion and feel for these families. All because our teens want to try and act cool and impress their friends. The good Lord is the only one who can fill the void in our young teens hearts. The streets will never fill that void and emptiness. It's God who will get Yelenas parents through such a difficult time. He will bring them the peace and strength that they need.
I feel sorry for your loss...is not easy to continue a normal life. but just think how beautiful she was . I saw her picture on the news last year and she looks like a little porcelan doll. this history broke my heart!!!!!!
I feel sorry for your loss...is not easy to continue a normal life. but just think how beautiful she was . I saw her picture on the news last year and she looks like a little porcelan doll. this history broke my heart!!!!!!
It is awful what the world is coming to. This so sad, such a beautiful child was innocently murdered. The parents had to have been extremely shocked to see their little girl in this way, let alone
not even know a family member, was part of a gang, even though he says a not an evil one. This is what happens with the splurge of retaliation. It makes no difference if the cause was from drugs, illegal ammunitions or whatever, a (supposed) good gang or bad gang. And honestly there is no such thing as a good gang. If a person is out for you it makes no difference what side you are on, because 99 chances out of 100, some innocent persons life will be taken, when it comes to rampant / drive by shootings.
There was one person that made a comment, on the immigration factor. I totally agree with that person and the government on putting a halt to over the border interlopers. They need to be sent right back if caught crossing the border. I am not rallying on all mexicans that are here in the U.S. already, especially those that have family in the U.S. I feel that those that have families should be granted immunity. I have a lot of friends that are mexican, african american and asian. And i can say there is good and bad in all races even in the whites and i am a white.
If the Chinese can build the Great Wall in Beiing, as well as some of the tallest building in the world all around, then we should be able to build something tall enough to keep illegals out that try to cross the border.
My heart goes out to the parents on the loss of a beautiful child.
It is awful what the world is coming to. This so sad, such a beautiful child was innocently murdered. The parents had to have been extremely shocked to see their little girl in this way, let alone not even know a family member, was part of a gang, even though he says a not an evil one. This is what happens with the splurge of retaliation. It makes no difference if the cause was from drugs, illegal ammunitions or whatever, a (supposed) good gang or bad gang. And honestly there is no such thing as a good gang. If a person is out for you it makes no difference what side you are on, because 99 chances out of 100, some innocent persons life will be taken, when it comes to rampant / drive by shootings. There was one person that made a comment, on the immigration factor. I totally agree with that person and the government on putting a halt to over the border interlopers. They need to be sent right back if caught crossing the border. I am not rallying on all mexicans that are here in the U.S. already, especially those that have family in the U.S. I feel that those that have families should be granted immunity. I have a lot of friends that are mexican, african american and asian. And i can say there is good and bad in all races even in the whites and i am a white. If the Chinese can build the Great Wall in Beiing, as well as some of the tallest building in the world all around, then we should be able to build something tall enough to keep illegals out that try to cross the border. My heart goes out to the parents on the loss of a beautiful child.
Only one word to describe these thugs, COWARDS! Shooting at a house without knowing if their enemy is home is gutless. Call you enemy out and face him like a man you punks.
These cowards squeal like pigs when they are arrested and turn on each other to save their yellow asses. The so called leader ran off to Mexico with his yellow tail between his legs. Ooh, let's go spray some more paint, that'll show em, right "COBARDES"?
I can remember 3 shootings in the past 8 years in KCK where a young child was killed when some thug sprayed bullets into a house or car. Too bad that illegal alien didn't flee to Honduras. They have quite the solution to these predators: kneecapping and bullets. Organized group violence that preys on society is worst than regular street violence and must be dealt with a firm choice. The street gang that calls its crazy family is just a wee bit ironic for a tough street gang who murders children.
Only one word to describe these thugs, COWARDS! Shooting at a house without knowing if their enemy is home is gutless. Call you enemy out and face him like a man you punks. These cowards squeal like pigs when they are arrested and turn on each other to save their yellow asses. The so called leader ran off to Mexico with his yellow tail between his legs. Ooh, let's go spray some more paint, that'll show em, right "COBARDES"?
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