In a tragic sequence of events in Racine, a family is grappling with an insurmountable loss after an 11-year-old boy, Jesus "Chucho" Valladares, was accidentally shot and killed by his sibling on Friday, May 17. Family members, overwhelmed by grief, describe the boy as full of life and a source of joy and support within the household. According to TMJ4, cousin Dolores Villarreal, through tears, recalled how Valladares was always eager to lend a hand, especially after the family recently faced another loss eight months prior.
The Racine Police Department reported that the shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, inside a home on the 2600 block of Prospect Street. After the incident, the family rushed Valladares to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. As FOX6 News stated, Valladares' older brother, 16 at the time, has been taken into custody, with charges referred to the Racine County District Attorney's Office.
Valladares was a fifth-grade student at Wadewitz Elementary, where the community has been left stunned by the loss. The school expressed its deep sorrow, "Our deepest condolences go out to his family forever changed by this incident. We will provide more information when we have it about how to help support this family and our school community affected by this tragedy," remarked the school in an online post, as reported by WISN. A GoFundMe has also been established in an effort to assist with the funeral expenses for Jesus Valladares.
The Racine Police Department Investigations Unit can be contacted at 262-635-7756, to aid in the ongoing investigation, as per statements obtained by local news outlets.
