Link shared

Ayleen Vanessa Ordonez-Gutierrez

Age 16

Belen, New Mexico

A missing seat for graduation day

It happened on the banks of the Rio Grande River, west of a convenience store in Rio Communities, New Mexico.

A student at Atrisco Heritage Academy, she greeted everyone with her gleaming smile. Her family said she “lived everyday to the fullest.” When they saw the news on Facebook, friends couldn’t believe it. “I called her and texted her and I was like, ‘Dude, tell me it’s fake,’” one said.

Ayleen Vanessa Ordonez-Gutierrez was shot in the head and struck by a car on Aug. 26, 2018, at a “river party.” Police said there had been “several fights” and that shots were fired, one of which ended Ordonez’s life.

By Matthew Asuncion · Age 19 and Aidan Danforth · Age 18
Meet the Reporters

More than 300 siblings

Ramand Kassadine Davis

Happy in his SpongeBob SquarePants jammies

Yaleah Hall

Sister, daughter, dancer, since day one

Elisha Amon Cole

Dreaming big, working on his portfolio

Lia Lin Collier

A light, “unrelenting joy” extinguished

Peyton Nicole Hurt

Still helping others, even in death

Ryan Amadeo Dela Cruz

Gone, two weeks shy of graduation

Rashaad Izil Wisher

One brother buried. Then another one.

Izabella Marie Helem

Brother shoots his sister by accident

Raydale Hill

Can no longer create his music

Jaquincy Jawan Ross

Wanted to buy her a scooter

Lorenzo Moore-Vaughn

About to start his senior year

Elijah Foster

Dope Boy Gang. One less member.

Kameron Johnson

He dreamed of college and cars

Jeremiah Ascencio

Last moments spent cradling his brother

Shondricka J'Nay Adams

Celebrating one night, gone the next

Ty'Dre Shyheim Hailey

She didn’t know it was real

Jayden Fondeur

His older brother found him first

Jontae Billups-Brooks

An athlete and a music lover

Rashiya Melton

Joins brother, leaves behind her twin

Caydence Nicole Painter

Reading, dancing, playing. Siblings shot together.