These plans and dreams ended with a fatal shot to the chest one late Thursday night at the William Street Park behind the Olinder Community Center. Christian Jimenez, a student at Willow Glen Middle School, was hanging out with two friends at the park on the evening of April 24. It was spring break and he was enjoying his time away from his studies.

Police reports say that night three young Hispanic men between the ages of 18 and 25 confronted Jimenez and his friends about their alleged gang affiliations. Jimenez and his friends said they weren't members of any gang, nor had any interest in them.

According to police, words were exchanged, and two men had begun assaulting Jimenez and his friends when the third man brandished a shotgun and shot Jimenez in the chest. He died at the scene. The men fled in what witnesses described as a white, older model large sedan—possibly a Buick or Chrysler. A nearby resident called 911 at 7:16 p.m., and police arrived two minutes later, according to San Jose Police Department Sgt. Steve Dixon.

"It was deliberate," Dixon said. "The culprits were looking for someone to kill. The victim didn't fight back. There was no reason for this killing."

On April 28, the first day back at school following spring break, was a somber time at Willow Glen Middle School. The district sent grief counselors to the campus for both students and teachers. Principal Darla Briggs even substituted for one of Jimenez's teachers so the teacher could visit a grief counselor.

Briggs knew Jimenez personally. She was his guidance counselor last year.

"He had a great smile and a great personality," Briggs said. "We're really going to miss him."

As far as Briggs and the school district know, a death of this kind has never occurred before at the middle school.

"We're trying to be proactive about this," Briggs said. Already the entire school has shown "an outpouring of love and support."

Ideas for a memorial include a concrete bench with a plaque and a portrait of Jimenez, or a skateboard locker in his name.

Several hundred students paid their respects to his family and memory April 30 for an open-casket wake at the Lima Family-Erickson funeral home. Some students wore buttons or T-shirts with Jimenez's picture on them, made by eighth-grader Christina Martinez.

Sandi Maida-Callahan spoke on behalf of Christian's mother, Angelica, who has worked as a warehouse manager for Maida-Callahan for 14 years. Maida-Callahan is the owner of Maida Specialties Company, a distributor of party materials.

"This is a terrible tragedy, and we're all praying that the people who did this are caught and answer for what they've done," Maida-Callahan said.

Jimenez's younger brother, 14-year-old Angelo, assisted his mother, friends and guests at the memorial.

"It's kind of a shock," Angelo said. "The house feels more empty."

Christian had moved to California from Mexico four years ago, after his grandmother died. She had been raising him. Angelo said with the death of his brother his relationship between himself and his mother has grown even stronger.

He said the world now is a little scarier with the murderer and his accomplices still at large. But he said he won't live in fear. Strength is what is helping Angelo deal with his brother's death, and he advises the same to anyone else who loses a loved one.

"Keep your head up," Angelo said.

Eighth-graders Noel Ruelas and Oswaldo Medina, Jimenez's close friends, said that it's somewhat strange to go to class and see an empty desk. They remember he had a cool smile and was always telling jokes. They were going to form a band, and Jimenez was going to be its drummer.

Contributed photographs Police sketches of the alleged suspects

The service for Jimenez was held on May 1 at Sacred Heart Church, 325 Willow St.

Police describe the three suspects as Hispanic men between the ages of 18 and 25. All the men were clean-shaven, with thin-to-muscular builds. One suspect had a shaved head and was wearing white tennis shoes. One suspect has a tattoo of a teardrop on the left side of his face and was wearing a Raiders baseball cap. One suspect has a gap between his teeth.

The police are asking for anyone with information regarding this case to call Det. Sgt. John Lax or Sgt. Bryon Jones of the San Jose Police Department at 408.277.5283. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 408.947.7867.