Hundreds attend vigil for young El Paso man shot and killed

Hundreds gathered at a vigil for Rogelio Franco on the Montwood High School campus. The 22 year old was shot and killed outside of an eastside bar over the weekend.

Franco was known to his friends and family as RJ. He was shot multiple times outside Barfly at 11335 Montwood Dr. late Saturday night.

A family member began the vigil by speaking to the tearful crowd.

“RJ is a new creation. He is whole. He is complete and he is happy. He is joyous because he is with the Lord,” said a relative.

Franco’s family is determined not to be consumed by the violence that took their loved one too soon.

“We don’t want to live with hate after what happened. It’s not going to do any good to anybody. You know parents shouldn’t have to get phone calls saying that their child got shot, much less killed,” said a family member.

Chris Moreno was Franco’s barber and friend.

“Two years I knew him. It hit me hard. He was really a good guy. A really good guy. For me just knowing him this short, he impacted my life,” Moreno said.

People gathered outside the high school holding white candles and wearing t-shirts with Franco’s picture. After a prayer, they released balloons into the sky.

Franco’s father, Roger, cried as he said goodbye to his son. Franco graduated from Montwood High School several years ago and was a football star. His father said it was only fitting that they hold the vigil there.

“It is very touching to see so many people loved him. And he had so many friends. To us you know there is comfort there seeing this, it is beautiful,” Roger Franco said.

The investigation into the shooting continues.

A spokesman for the El Paso Police Department said several off-duty officers were working security in a shopping area when they heard gunshots.

Police say 19-year-old Moises Galvan, Franco and another 22-year-old man were walking in the parking lot continuing an argument that happened inside of a bar at the shopping center.

During the argument, police say Galvan took out a gun and fired several rounds, killing Franco. The alleged shooter reportedly attempted to flee the scene but was caught after a short foot pursuit by the off-duty police officers.

Franco said his son’s best friend, David Ortega, was with him the night of the shooting and was also shot multiple times.

“He touched a lot of people’s hearts, his smile,” Roger Franco said.

The night before Franco was killed family members and friends were together at a restaurant. Franco spotted a photographer and paid to have a photo taken.

“As he walked out, he said, here Dad I am giving you this picture. And I said no RJ, you paid for it, you keep it. He said it’s memories, here, I am giving it to you,” Franco said. “You know, who would have known that was going to be the last picture he took with us.”