On the seven-year anniversary of a tragic road rage incident that left Gilbert Aaron Rocha dead, his mother, Lori Rocha, stood at the site of his untimely passing—on the corners of Huebner and Lockhill Selma Roads in San Antonio—with a call to action for the community. A poignant scene unfolded as strangers laid flowers in a silent gesture of solidarity, Lori finding a fleeting peace in the midst of her persevering sorrow. "That really brought a little bit of peace," she told KSAT, "I got a real peaceful presence for a second because it’s not a peaceful day."
Her son, Aaron, the victim of a senseless act of violence, was shot dead on the bustling San Antonio roadway on Nov. 26, 2016, a date forever etched in the Rocha family's memory. It was around 2:30 a.m. when a passenger in a second vehicle brandished a weapon and fired multiple shots into the blue Ford Explorer Aaron occupied, striking him and the driver. "When this happened, I lost everything," Lori Rocha expressed in a statement obtained by KSAT. "I miss being able to do things together. We never will."
Each year, on the grim anniversary, Lori pleads for information that might forward the investigation, her resolve undimmed even as years pass. Coinciding with what the Texas Department of Transportation noted as one of the year's busiest travel days—the tail end of Thanksgiving weekend—she hoped the increased traffic would stir potential witnesses. Locals like safety advocate Randolph Singleterry also chimed in on the day's significance, advocating for vigilant and sober driving. "You have to take your safety into your hands and you have to make the choices," Singleterry told KSAT.
The Texas Department of Transportation is in full swing with its "Drive Sober. No Regrets" campaign, overlapping with a period of heightened law enforcement slated from Dec. 16 through Jan. 1—times when officers vigilantly seek out impaired drivers. But despite the promised winding down of holiday traffic, and the collective effort to promote safety, Lori's quest for justice endures, resonating with a mother's inextinguishable hope. "I'm not going to stop," she declared. "Imagine that being your child. You would want someone to come forward.", as mentioned by KSAT. Any tip could be the key that unlocks the long-sought answers to Aaron's murder, as Lori urges those with knowledge of the incident to step forth and contact Crime Stoppers at (210) 224-STOP.
