El Pasoans walk for victims of crime for the first time since before the pandemic

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- It has been several years since families have been able to walk in memory of their loved ones, and victims of crimes have been honored with the Walk for Victims of Crime. One grieving mother told ABC-7, the walk is important for people like her.

"It's very hard, you know, having to go on with life without my son. Just thinking, and knowing, you know, what could have been," said Ruby Lerma, who lost her 16-year-old son, Isaiah, when he was shot to death nearly two years ago.

"Justice still hasn't been served. There is a trial still going on. It'll be two years in December. It's very hard," said Lerma.

Lerma also walked for her uncle and two cousins. She is not alone in her pain, as well as her hope for justice for her loved ones. Hundreds of people from El Paso, Hudspeth, and Culberson Counties walked the trails of Franklin Mountain State Park, holding the same pain, and the same hope.

The walk was held by the El Paso District Attorney's Office. El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks spoke at the event.

"People who are victims of crime, are innocent victims of crime. They never intended to be a part of the criminal justice system. They're a part of the criminal justice system because somebody took their rights from them, made them a part of the criminal justice system against their will. And this is a point to give them a voice," he said.

But Hicks also said, the walk is just one step in the journey to justice.

"Cases that had been stagnant for years are moving forward. We've been going to trial on case, after case, after case that are 2018, 2019, even 2020 cases that have been stagnant and sitting in our courts. And we're pushing those cases forward. And people are appreciative of that," said Hicks.

Lerma said waiting for justice is incredibly painful, and she hopes justice for her son is served soon.

"Having to wait, and have everything, you know, be replayed over again, I think, is gonna be something that's going to be very hard," she said.

But Lerma told ABC-7, having the walk back this year is a reason for hope.

"There are a lot of us out there that are going through the same thing, and sometimes... it might help knowing that you're not the only one, but that there's other people going through the same thing. And together in unity, I think it's a big help," she said.