Classmates and Neighbors Gather to Mourn 13-Year-Old Shooting Victim

A vigil held at Villa-Parke Community Center in Pasadena on Monday was attended by hundreds of people including friends of the boy’s family and the Pasadena City Council.
Photo by Justin HAGER

By Justin HAGER

Hundreds of children, parents, neighbors, clergy, law enforcement and elected officials gathered Monday night at Pasadena’s Villa-Parke Community Center in Pasadena to mourn the loss of an innocent child killed in the epidemic of violence sweeping the nation.

Iran Moreno Balvaneda was playing video games in his bedroom on Saturday when a stray bullet came through the window of his Pasadena home and struck him. He was rushed to a local hospital but did not survive.

Although investigators do not believe that Moreno Balvaneda was the intended target of the shooting, Pasadena police are still searching for the gunman and questions remain largely unanswered about the shooting.

Two planned vigils to show support for the family and demand change to keep

streets safe merged into a single event on Monday night. Several hundred people turned out, including the Pasadena City Council, which canceled its scheduled meeting in order to attend the vigil. Mayor Victor Gordo pledged to “do things differently here in Pasadena,” a sentiment that echoed similar pledges in the past two days to bolster police presence and get guns off the streets.

The Balvaneda family did not attend the vigil as family members continue to mourn the loss of their child, but several family friends and community leaders took the stage, as well as local musicians who played “Te vas ángel mío,” translated as “You’re leaving, my angel.” Classmates of the 13-year-old hugged, cried and offered support and encouragement to one another.

Iran was described as a “good kid from a friendly family,” “a straight-A student,” and perhaps most tragically, “an innocent child.”

The Pasadena Police Dept. is asking for help in identifying the shooter or with any additional information about the incident.

“If you know anything about this tragic incident or you saw anything, please, please, please come forward to the Pasadena Police Department,” said police Cmdr. Mark Goodman. “We will keep your information anonymous. What we want to do is find the people who are responsible for this tragic incident and bring them to justice.”

This is an ongoing news story. CV Weekly will provide updates as they become available.