A Turlock family is grappling with the loss of a loved one after a road rage incident turned tragic last Friday night. Turlock Police Department reported the stabbing death of Enrique Gomez, a 49-year-old grandfather, near West Monte Vista Avenue. In a statement obtained by ABC10, Thelma Losano, Gomez's sister, recounted the event starting with her brother asking another driver to slow down, leading to him being followed and fatally stabbed.
The confrontation began outside his younger sister's apartment complex when Gomez requested the driver, later identified by authorities as 28-year-old Modesto resident Ahmad Abweny, to reduce his speed. The verbal exchange escalated, and hours later, police arrested Abweny on murder charges. Losano detailed how the altercation culminated in a single fatal stab wound to her brother's upper chest area. Her reflections on the night's events illustrated a sense of a man whose life was recklessly cut short, a sentiment echoed across the family's statements.
Family members have expressed both their heartbreak and their desire for justice in the aftermath. Enrique Gomez, remembered fondly for his generosity and love by his sister Carmella Finley, leaves behind a grieving family, including four children and four grandchildren. "He had the biggest heart in the whole wide world," Finley told ABC10, emphasizing the depth of their loss.
Gomez's siblings, in addition to mourning his abrupt departure, emphasized his efforts to turn his life around after being released from prison six months prior. "He was a great man, great man, and he loved 100% when he loved," Finley statement obtained by ABC10. Describing him as a man who lived each day to its fullest, the family recounted the Italian tradition of lighting candles in his memory and are asking for community support. A Venmo account has been set up to help with funeral costs, and a candlelight vigil and prayer have been scheduled for the subsequent evenings at 7 p.m., details of which were shared by KCRA.
As the family finds comfort in tradition and shared memories, they also call for justice to be served. "This was something that was in his head. He thought about it probably multiple times and carried out the crime. So I'd like justice to be served, and I'd like him to sit in prison where he can think of his actions for the rest of his life," Losano told ABC10.
