Johnny Tapia family targeted by vandalism and shooting
Both incidents believed to have happened on same night
Both incidents believed to have happened on same night
Both incidents believed to have happened on same night
A well-known Albuquerque family is in turmoil after two incidents the same night left them searching for answers.
Johnny Tapia was a boxing legend who died in 2012.
He's buried at San Jose De Armijo Cemetery.
Tuesday night his grave was vandalized.
That same night his 19-year-old son was shot.
“It's devastating,” widow and mother Teresa Tapia said.
Tuesday night, her son had to be rushed to the hospital after being shot near Jefferson Avenue.
No arrests have been made in the case.
What's worse is, she said her son is in the National Guard and was getting ready for active duty.
But doctors told her the bullet is too close to his femoral artery to remove.
“He's stable. He's out of the hospital. We just don't know if this is going to end his military career. We don't know,” Tapia said.
Before her son was even out of the hospital she found out her late husband’s grave had been vandalized.
Pictures were found burned and glass candles were smashed at the often-visited site.
“They come and they leave stuff for Johnny. I've found letters, rosaries, pictures. People write me from all over the world and this is a place they come to see him,” Tapia said.
One of the pictures damaged was of his mother -- the woman he saw murdered when he was just 8 years old, who served as his inspiration in the boxing ring.
“Johnny, his whole life he lived for others, his mom, for me, for our children. He didn't really care what you did to him, but he always cared about the people he loved,” Tapia said.
She said over the last few days the outpouring of support has been amazing.
She also said she wants the people responsible -- for both the shooting and the vandalism -- to be brought to justice.
Anyone with any information about either incident is asked to call police.