SARASOTA, Fla. – The Santana household in Sarasota is in search of justice for his or her son and brother after the murder cost for the person accused of murdering him was dropped.
The backstory:
Eric Santana was shot and killed after a combat broke out at a celebration at Twin Lakes Park in November 2024. His household desires him to be remembered for greater than what occurred to him.
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“He was a tremendous particular person,” Gisselle Santana, his sister, stated. “You’ll all the time see him laughing. You’ll additionally see him smiling.”
She remains to be reeling from the information that expenses have been dropped in opposition to the person accused of killing her brother final 12 months. Gisselle stated this occurred, as a result of it was now thought-about self-defense.
What they’re saying:
“It is simply so disappointing that the individual that killed my brother, that murdered my brother, he simply is free roaming the streets like he did not do nothing,” Gisselle stated.
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Initially, three folks have been charged within the incident. Jonathan Vivar was charged with murder, however now that cost has been dropped.
“He destroyed a household, and it is simply so disappointing, that we could not get justice,” Gisselle stated. “And, that is why I am right here to get justice in the direction of my brother.”
Dorotea Santana, Eric’s mom, spoke to FOX 13 by means of her daughter as a translator.
“She stated that she desires the individual that murdered her son to pay, and she or he simply wished justice for taking her son’s life away,” Dorotea stated by means of her daughter.
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What’s subsequent:
Vivar nonetheless faces expenses of aggravated battery, weapons expenses and destruction of proof. Carlos Romero-Tomas additionally faces one felony and two misdemeanor expenses.
“He isn’t right here now. We’re the one ones which might be right here, and we’re the one ones who can communicate in the direction of him and combat for his justice,” Gisselle stated. “And, we would like justice served.”
She stated there was a combat at this occasion and her brother was caught within the crossfire.
“Any individual took out a gun and that is after they all began, they usually simply began taking pictures, and we simply went in the direction of my brother, the shot,” Gisselle stated. “However, my brother was unarmed.”
Gisselle stated she discovered the fees have been dropped from a deputy with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Workplace.
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“That decision made us really feel like that decision they made to us that when he handed away,” Gisselle stated. “It simply, I am unable to describe the sensation in the direction of the pictures, ache.”
The State Lawyer’s Workplace didn’t instantly reply to our request for touch upon this story. Officers did meet with the household after Vivar was launched from custody.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Workplace declined to remark.
The Supply: Info on this story comes from interviews accomplished by FOX 13’s Danielle Zulkosky.
