Person after person hugged Edilma Bonilla De Leon near the memorial for her two sons. They paid their respects to the mother, as they honored the lives of her children on Thursday in Pico Union.
Authorities say the boys’ father shot and killed them on Sunday afternoon. Just four days later, the community gathered on the same sidewalk on Venice Boulevard to honor brothers Jimmy Gramajo, 4, and Osmani Gramajo, 11.
With Bonilla not ready to speak, her older sister Marilsa Bonilla addressed the crowd.
“There are so many people that came here today that we don’t know, but that have felt moved by the story of the children,” Marilsa Bonilla said. “We don’t have the words or know how to return so much kindness… we hope to God that the example of these little ones will motivate other parents to give more love to their children and preserve life because it is precious”.
Dozens of community members, including local police, neighbors, school leadership, religious leaders and the fire department gathered.
Their father Adolfo Gramajo, 35, allegedly shot himself after shooting his sons, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department.
The boys were pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital. Their father survived and is currently in police custody and being treated at a hospital.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Gramajo with two counts of murder, including additional enhancements for use of a firearm. His arraignment is to be scheduled at a later date. At this time, there is no known motive for the shooting.
Honoring the children
Father Mario Torres, pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, led with a speech and prayed for the family and children who were parishioners of the church.
“When somebody’s lives are taken, especially children, little angels, it affects us all,” Torres said. “There’s no words that I or anybody could say to take away the pain and sorrow that mom’s going through right now but we’re here because we have faith in God.”
Father Torres had the children’s cousins read scripture, invited the crowd to pray for the family and gave the memorial site and family his blessings with holy water.
Andrew Conroy, Principal at Virgil Middle School, greeted the family in Spanish and shared how Osmani was one of the students who was always early and was one of the sixth graders who was always smiling.
After the event, Marilsa Bonilla said the family was comforted by the presence of so many from the community.
“They’re my sister’s kids and this moment she’s going through hurts my soul”, said Marilsa Bonilla. “I would’ve wanted this to be a birthday party for my nephews with gifts and laughs and although it’s the exact opposite, I’m still grateful for the community that came to support.”
A difficult loss for the community
Days before the event, strangers and friends alike brought candles, stuffed animals and flowers as they paid their respects to the children at the memorial site.
Many community members, including Deylin Maldonado, who knew the family was of Guatemalan descent, came to show support for their fellow compatriots.
“It makes you feel and cry and you think that the same could happen with your children, at least for myself as a mother the most sacred thing I have in life are my children,” said Maldonado, a community member who cried upon hearing the news and lit candles at the memorial site. “Knowing this gives you mixed feelings, so it’s difficult to believe that this family is going through this.”
Neighbors step in to help
A family member has set up a GoFundMe under the name “Honoring Jimmy and Osmani lives” to support their burial costs.
Julia Abrego, a local community member, heard the news of the children and immediately decided to gather her friends and neighbors to host an event at the memorial site for this coming Sunday at 9 a.m. where they will sell tamales, champurrado, mole, fruit, drinks and other snacks to help support the family financially.
Abrego has lived in the community for 21 years and said she’s always enjoyed helping others.
“I feel good about this because I simply want to help people; my philosophy is, ‘Today for me, tomorrow for you,’” Abrego said and left the conversation in tears thinking about her own children.
