Family and friends of Regina Vidal, took to the streets of Las Olas in a heartfelt tribute to the 22-year-old who tragically lost her life to gun violence in January. Participants united for a two-mile journey on Saturday to celebrate Vidal's spirit and highlight the scourge of domestic violence. "She unfortunately passed away from gun violence," Vidal's best friend, Rebecca Silverman, told Local 10. Silverman described Vidal as "very loving, caring, energetic and spontaneous."
On January 27, Lauderhill police were called to an apartment where Hugo Lazo, 24, was reportedly dancing with a gun that discharged and struck Vidal, resulting in her death. Lazo has since been charged with manslaughter, police confirmed, and is currently held without bond at the BSO's Main Jail. "Where's the person that shot her?" a 911 operator can be heard asking a panicked young woman on a call released by the authorities, which highlighted the chaos of the incident. Vidal's mother, Rae Marie Vidal is convinced there's more to the tragic event, affirming, "Whether it's today, tomorrow, or ten years from now, the truth will come out because I'm not going to be quiet about it," she declared in an interview obtained by Local 10.
The memorial walk also coincided with Vidal's Rosary prayer service and her beloved number 17, which played a significant role in her life, including being the day of her birthday in December, further adding to the sentimental value of the gathering. "It just was really special to us," Danielle Vidal, Regina’s sister, told NBC Miami. "None of us asked anybody to do it, they just did it on their own accord."
Friends and family are seeking peace after the arrest of Lazo on February 14 by the United States Marshals with assistance from the Lauderhill Police Department. They hope the arrest marks progress in the investigation into Vidal's death. "A little bit, more peace to our minds knowing that the investigation is heading in the right direction,” Danielle Vidal expressed in a statement to NBC Miami. The bereaved family hopes the memory of Regina as an "uplifting and nurturing" person will offer some solace as they navigate their grief.
