Friends and family of Tara Romero, the Morgan Hill teen slain in a 2011 drive-by shooting on the south end of town, will host a fundraiser to complete a public art project in honor of her and other children who have died too soon.
The fundraiser will take place 3 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at GVA Café, 17400 Monterey Road in downtown Morgan Hill. The event will feature live music and a DJ from Studio 22, as well as an art display, raffle prizes and more.
Romero’s parents have commissioned an artist to create a bronze bust depicting the teen’s likeness, to adorn city grounds as a permanent reminder of the impact of violence, urging local youth and other passersby to commit to a peaceful environment. The city council in December unanimously approved placing the statue—which will stand about 6 feet tall—at the demonstration garden at the Peak Avenue civic center campus, between City Hall and council chambers.
Romero died in a Nov. 4, 2011 drive-by shooting at the intersection of Cosmo and Del Monte avenues in southwest Morgan Hill. Five young men drove slowly by the intersection when at least one of the occupants opened fire on Romero and a group of her teen friends, who were standing in the area waiting for a ride home.
Romero was pronounced dead at the scene. Three of her friends—also her classmates at Sobrato High School where Romero was a freshman—were injured by the gunfire.
The occupants of the vehicle were arrested shortly after the shooting; four of them have been to trial on murder and attempted murder charges. Three were convicted earlier this year, and one was found not guilty by the jury. The fifth suspect is awaiting trial.
According to police reports and testimony at the trial, the suspects were associated with the Norteno street gang and perpetrated the shooting for gang-related purposes. The victims were not associated with gang activity, and were mistakenly targeted by the shooters, according to trial testimony.
