Willow Glen Resident

News

Willow Glen High mourns loss of 15-year- old student, marking city's 24th homicide

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The death of a 15-year-old Willow Glen High School student has left his peers in mourning and school officials working toward mending their school's reputation.

"It's a major incident," said Willow Glen High School vice principal Al Gallegos. "Someone lost a life, and kids are grieving."

According to San Jose Police Department spokesman Nick Muyo, Adrian Figueroa was walking with his girlfriend near Guadalupe River by Hotts Park on Sept. 29 around 5 p.m. when several unidentified individuals "jumped him."

Adrian was stabbed in the altercation.

A passerby who saw the teen lying on the ground with what appeared to be stab wounds flagged down a police car driving by on a patrol, police said.

The officer called an ambulance, and Adrian was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

This is San Jose's 24th homicide this year, which is a relatively low number for a city this size, Muyo said.

"There's been a recent spike in homicides," he said. "These spikes normally occur during the holidays, but since school just started, it could also be a factor."

Although police refused to add any more information, citing a pending investigation, Muyo said there are too many reasons out there for youth to resort to violence.

"We're just seeing it get out of control here," he said.

Adrian had been at Willow Glen High for only a year and had never caused any trouble, Gallegos said.

"He was a nice kid," he said. "He kept to himself, always in the background. He never came into my office for anything discipline-related. He wanted to graduate, make his mom proud."

The school held a memorial for the slain sophomore on Oct. 2.

"He had told me once that he only had two friends here," Gallegos said. "We had, like, 50 people show up and sign cards--athletes, honor kids. Look at all these students he touched. It was great to see Willow Glen come together like that."

Gallegos said although Adrian was bused to the school from another neighborhood and didn't spend time in Willow Glen, he would be missed.

Anyone with more information on this case can contact Detective Sgt. Pete Ramirez or Detective Sgt. Tom Morales with the San Jose Police Department's homicide unit at 408.277.5283. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 408.946.STOP.