Hundreds Pay Respects for Slain Youth

By Jorge Casuso

March 15 -- Some 500 people, nearly all of them Latinos, paid their respects at funeral services Monday morning for two young men gunned down at a party March 5 in Sunset Park.

A similar number showed up at a rosary service Sunday night, also held inside St. Anne’s church, for Jonathan Nicolas Hernandez, 19, of Ocean Park, and Hector Bonilla, 25, of the Pico Neighborhood.

While Sunday’s vigil, which included an open casket viewing, was emotional, there were no eulogies for the slain victims at either service, and Monday’s funeral mass was subdued.

Some 500 people attended a funeral mass for two slain youth Monday. (Photos by Lookout staff)

From the get go, Father Gutierrez made it clear that Monday's service was a time for prayer and not a media event.

"We're here today to pray, to celebrate their lives and be with them," Gutierrez said.

Love was the theme at the mass, with Father Gutierrez going out of his way to stress the need for forgiveness and reconciliation.

“Love one another does not include revenge, mistrust or evil thoughts,” Father Gutierrez told the congregation. “Love one another is a command. You will love one another.

A picture of Jonathan Nicolas Hernandez on his funeral hearse.

“We are here today because we do love,” he said. “We have not forgotten to love.

“We are called to ask for justice. We are called to love tenderly. We are called to serve one another, to walk only with God.

Hector Bonilla's hearse.

“May the angels lead you intro paradise, take you both to the holy city, the eternal Jerusalem,” Father Gutierrez said.

Among those attending the mass were former State Senator Tom Hayden, Police Chief James T. Butts, Jr., Schools Superintendent John Deasy and several City Council members.

Gene Williams contributed to this report