ONTARIO >> Classmates, friends, family and police gathered Saturday to say goodbye to 17-year-old Raul Herrera III who authorities say committed suicide by cop here last week.
The Ontario teen, who at one time aspired to become a rocket scientist, died in a confrontation with police on Aug. 20.
A white Chevrolet Blazer, with a surfboard strapped to the roof, sat outside the Richardson Funeral Home at 123 W. G St., filled with signatures and comments from Herrera’s family and classmates.
“We miss you Raul,” one of the comments said.
Raul’s father, Joe Herrera, said he isn’t angry with police, adding that the Ontario Police Department is filled with kind, great men and women who put their lives on the line each day to protect the community.
“I don’t blame the police for what happened,” Joe Herrera said. “Police don’t get up in the morning and decide they want to kill someone. They have to live with what Raul forced them to do and they did nothing wrong.”
The shooting took place after officers responded to a number 9-1-1 calls reporting a gun-toting teen was riding a skateboard along Archibald Avenue near Brookside Street.
Herrera robbed a restaurant before skateboarding down the avenue, pointing the weapon at random at people and cars while screaming, “I have a gun,” police said.
When officers confronted the teen, he refused to drop the weapon and an officer-involved shooting occurred, police Sgt. Jeff Higbee said. Further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting were not available.
Paramedics took Herrera to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, officials said.
Police said they found a suicide note in Herrera’s bedroom.
Higbee called Herrera’s death horrible and said that the officers who fired on him now have to cope with what happened.
Classmates of the teen were seen at the funeral services crying hysterically and demanding answers about why their friend chose to end his life.
“I just don’t understand what was going through his mind,” one unidentified teen girl said. “Life seemed so great for him and he was the most amazing person. Why did he want to leave all of us?”
Joe Herrera didn’t have answers to many of the questions, but said his son’s death has renewed his faith in God.
“Raul’s death has made me want to become better,” he said. “A better father. A better husband. A better grandfather and a better son, to Jesus. My son will be missed forever but his memory and his spirit will continue for eternity.”
