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Andrea Abby Barberena-Rojas

Age 16

Bradenton, Florida

Deeply missed by her JROTC family

The Lakewood Ranch High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) felt like they had a winning shot in this year’s Raider, an annual athletic competition between all Manatee County JROTC programs.

One forest green-clad cadet considered the Raider her favorite competition. Strong, supportive and full of life, her teammates said she “was a beast at this stuff.”

On Sept. 23, 2018, Andrea Abby Barberena-Rojas, 16, and her mother were fatally shot by her stepfather before he shot himself, leaving behind her 3-year-old stepsister. In honor of her favorite color, her JROTC family wore purple shirts that read #DoItForAbby in the Raider competition she missed.

By Aaliyah Alcibar · Age 16
Meet the Reporters

More than 300 athletes

Elisha Amon Cole

Dreaming big, working on his portfolio

Taveon Donte' Brooks

Basketball point guard, would-be rapper

Natwan Kian Holyfield

Supposed to go to homecoming, prom

Orlando Myron Anderson Jr.

He was so full of life

Sharon Castro

She always helped those who struggled

Avi Liam Franco

He loved to learn and explore

Zyhame Kila Jones

An artist, basketball player and car-lover

Kendrick D. Davis

Not quite clear on his dreams

Lorenzo Moore-Vaughn

About to start his senior year

Jeremiah Ascencio

Last moments spent cradling his brother

Vicente Valero III

He was a modern Renaissance man

James Alexzander Shorter

He’ll never taste grandma’s cookies again

Jayden Fondeur

His older brother found him first

Jontae Billups-Brooks

An athlete and a music lover

Ray Glasgow III

Bench wears jersey instead of captain

Ra’Quan Darius Jones

Didn’t get to see his GED

Ta Quan Pinkney

Bright future; gone too soon

Ricky Lamar Green Jr.

His children never saw him box

Jovontia Antonio Jones

A runner grieved by seven siblings

Brandon Nathan Tyson

Friday night lights end in tragedy