In a solemn vigil yesterday evening in Las Vegas, community members gathered to honor the life of 25-year-old Jorge Gomez, who was fatally shot by members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police during the chaos of a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. The vigil, which took place steps away from the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse, marks over five years since the shooting—years that have seen both a pursuit of legal recourse and continued anguish for Gomez's family. In a development following a civil lawsuit, a judge ordered LVMPD to pay $6.5 million to the Gomez family, as reported by News3LV.
Despite this financial decision, Gomez's family firmly expressed that their fight for justice is far from over. Jeanne Llera, Jorge's mother, stated in an interview obtained by News3LV, "We won't be satisfied until D.A. Wilson does his job. His job is holding officers accountable." The vigil included not only moments of remembrance but also served to blatantly remind those present that their work towards broader change remains crucially unfinished. Two officers were found liable by a civil jury as per the lawsuit filed by Gomez's parents following inaction from the district attorney's office to prosecute.
The emotional weight of the years-long struggle was palpable at the memorial event, where mourners listened to poetry readings, and a violinist played near the site where Gomez met his end. According to an interview by 8 News Now, Llera expressed gratitude for the community's support, saying, "I'm grateful that the attention is still there, because people are still getting killed by police." She pointed out the systemic nature of police violence, referencing her son as part of a lineage for change, in the same way George Floyd became a global emblem.
Mourners at the vigil also took time to write messages of support for the Gomez family on the sidewalk, signifying both a personal and collective frustration with law enforcement actions amidst the subsequent review of Gomez's death. As per Jeannie Llera's words to 8 News Now, "The grief remains that's never going to go away," and "When you lose a kid, that whole always be part of your heart." Despite reaching out for comment after the verdict, LVMPD and the police union have not responded to inquiries from 8 News Now, leaving the community and the Gomez family to reckon still with the silence on the other end of accountability.
