UPDATE: Vigil at Chief Sealth IHS for murdered student Derek Juarez-Lopez

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

6:37 PM: Outside the auditorium at Chief Sealth International High School right now, 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez – murdered the day before he was to start his sophomore year – is being remembered at a public vigil.

Some of his poems have been read (video added):

And his sister is speaking.

(Derek’s mother and sister)

It’s also been announced that there will be a moment of silence during the upcoming Sealth-West Seattle HS football game that starts across the street at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) at 7 pm. Police are continuing to investigate the murder, which happened at Westcrest Park a week and a half ago; no one’s been arrested yet. The SPD tip line is 206-233-5000.

7:24 PM: More photos added. We are at the game now, and have learned that the moment of silence was actually held before the game. As announced by Sealth’s principal on Thursday, Derek’s memorial service is at 4 pm Sunday

Ajwren September 15, 2017 (10:36 pm)

Darek’s murder is so sad and disturbing. Wow!

Mother2Mother September 15, 2017 (10:49 pm)

I’ve thought about this child every day since his murder.

TR-

Thank you for your commitment to this community and true journalism.

Breanna Whited September 16, 2017 (7:54 am)

As a Sealth teacher and mother in the West Seattle community, I am heartbroken. Derek, also known as Peachy (a nickname his older sister pictured above gave him as a baby), was senselessly and brutally murdered and robbed in one of our local public parks. Parents and community members, we must be outraged and moved to action! When it is not safe for us to let our teens walk to their local school, what do we have left?

I want to praise the students who loved Derek enough to plan and host this vigil at Sealth. Watching their young, broken faces struggle to convey their sympathy to the Lopez family while they were suffering in their own grief overwhelmed we with a sense of pride for the strength of Sealth students. They wanted Derek’s family to know how much he mattered to them. He is forever a part of our Sealth family, and we will not forget the powerful impact this tragedy has brought to our lives.

To begin teaching the first day of school with having to inform classmates of a peer’s passing the day before was the most horrifying moment in my 28 years of teaching in West Seattle since I watched the second tower fall on September 11, 2001 with a group of eighth grade Denny students. This kind of tragedy is what none of us hope our children ever have to experience, and I want to let the community know that the staff of Chief Sealth are here for the long haul to help our students (as well as each other and Derek’s family) heal.

Those present at last night’s vigil watched Derek’s toddler nephew reach out over and over to the photos of his uncle as his small voice asked his grandmother and mother, “Where’s Peachy?” This family NEEDS us now as they process and heal from this senseless act of violence that robbed them of their son, brother and uncle. Please continue to give to the Go Fund Me. https://www.gofundme.com/derekjuarezlopezfund Proceeds go DIRECTLY to Derek’s mother. They will need support to help run their household during this time of grief. There is NO way a parent or older sibling (Derek was the baby by several years to his older siblings and he was their great joy) can function enough to work to pay the bills after a tragedy like this strikes so unexpectedly. Yet rent and bills must be paid. Even with he funeral expenses paid, his family can barely breathe, let alone work. Please give and keep giving. This could have been anyone’s child wearing a backpack taking a short cut through a park.

Derek/Peachy’s words will live far beyond any of us. Last night a bookmark with his poem on it was handed out to those who gathered at the vigil. A wise, beautiful young man is gone. May we find justice for him as we all move forward to heal. Thank you for supporting his grieving family and friends.

WSprayers September 16, 2017 (10:46 pm)

Thank you chief Sealth teachers and staff you all have been an incredible support to Derek’s family friends and students thro all of this- Well spoke words -I am a mom to a young man who is a sophomore at Sealth too-Derek’s murder is my worst nightmare come true- my heart aches for his friends & family! In agreement 100% we need to be outraged we need to take action go to community meetings-get involved -I know I feel I need to do something…prayers for his family friends and our community….and prayers they find the evil who did this