Many Attend Funeral Friday Of Las Cruces Football Player Killed

Jerry Zamarripa, an Onate High School football player, was laid to rest Friday at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, west of Las Cruces.

Zamarripa died Feb. 26, nearly a week after a blow to the head left him brain-dead.

“He always brought everybody up when everybody was down,” Juan Flores, a close friend, said.

Family and friends said this was a young man with a bright future cut tragically short by senseless violence.

“Apparently he was a very joyful young man who loved life to the fullest and loved to make people laugh,” Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, of the Las Cruces Catholic Diocese, said.

Those who attended the funeral services said they will always remember his uplifting spirit.

“He had such a great heart, full of compassion, a peace-maker,” Melissa Vega, a family friend, said.

And now Zamarripa rests in eternal peace. Friends showed their support for the teenager who they say will not be defined by the violence that killed him and another innocent victim.

Julian Pena was allegedly shot and killed by a group of young men who authorities said tried to avenge Zamarripa’s attack.

“It’s a tragedy that we had to lose two actually,” Vega said. “We send our regards, condolences to the Pena family as well; and I wish that everyone can just keep the peace.”

The two big funerals in one week send a powerful message to the community, Bishop Ramirez said.

“There’s things to learn from this experience,” Bishop Ramirez said. “There’s a lot of healing that needs to take place; there’s a lot of anger out there and we need to resolve some of that anger and bring peace to our community once more.”

Andrew Martinez is charged with an open count of murder in Zamarripa’s death.

Investigators said Martinez hit Zamarripa in the head with a golf club. They said the attack was so viscous, the club broke.

As family and friends paid their final respects, they said, Zamarripa’s spirit will live on, with hopes the violence will end.

“He’s going to truly be missed,” Vega said.

But the good times will always remain close in the hearts of those touched by Zamarripa.

“Those are the best memories I ever had, just playing basketball with Jerry, having a good time, everybody just playing basketball,” Flores said. “I’m just gonna miss him forever.”

Martinez remains in jail on a $100,000 cash bond.

Zamarripa’s family is hosting a car wash in Jerry’s honor this Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Families and Youth Inc., 1320 S. Solano Drive.