IRVING — The funeral home on Story Road was packed with purple for hours Friday.
Gabriel Zamora, 14, was shot in a road-rage incident in late September while riding in a truck with family. He was wearing a purple Selena shirt from a family trip to Corpus Christi.
Gabriel remained in a coma until his death Nov. 19. His family chose to honor his legacy and remember his vibrant personality with purple, a favorite color of his
During his memorial service at International Funeral Home, the guestbook in the lobby was filled with names in purple ink. One cousin wore purple eyeliner.
Relatives wore sweatshirts bearing his name. Half were dark purple with various messages on the front. One read “My guardian angel.” Another said “My brother’s keeper.”
The other half were white sweatshirts with purple lettering, featuring a picture of Gabriel dressed in camouflage. His father, Miguel Zamora, said the photo was chosen because “he fought like a soldier until the end.”
Gabriel was with his sister, Natalie Zamora, her husband and their twin babies driving to their Balch Springs home from a bowling alley about 1 a.m. Sept. 24 when they honked at a pickup that cut them off on C.F. Hawn Freeway.
Seconds later, the other driver lined up his truck next to their vehicle and someone inside fired five times, striking Gabriel in his head, arm and torso, Natalie Zamora previously told The Dallas Morning News.
No arrests have been made in connection with his death, and his family continues to wait for answers and accountability.
“I just hope he gets justice someday,” his father said. “He was 14 years old. He was just starting to live life.”
Everyone’s ‘personal hype man’
Gabriel was remembered during his funeral as a fun-loving, beloved brother, son and uncle.
The freshman at W.T. White High School was already looking to his future and high school graduation, his sister said. She said he wanted to be a barber, and a selfie on display at the funeral home showed him holding a comb.
A slideshow that played throughout the morning featured moments from Gabriel’s life. From big occasions like birthdays and graduations to smaller moments like selfies and home videos, he was always smiling and surrounded by family and friends.
“He loved making TikToks like every little kid,” Natalie Zamora said. Gabriel’s father said he dreamed of going viral.
Bryanna Flores, 13, said if she could describe her cousin in one word, it would be “loving.” The two spoke often over FaceTime and were close friends.
Other cousins said no matter who Gabriel met, he knew exactly how to talk to them with ease. They said he was everyone’s “personal hype man.”
“You couldn’t be sad around him,” said Isaac Zamora, 19.
Anna Vilazquez, 24, said he will always be remembered for his dimples and his smile.
His father described Gabriel as an outgoing kid who was always laughing, and who was taken too soon.
For the two long months Gabriel was in a coma, Miguel Zamora said he held out hope for a miracle. He expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support the family has received since the incident.
“I know we have an angel up there,” he said. “I’m brokenhearted, but I’m trying to be strong.”
No updates in the case
As of Friday, there are no updates in the case and the gunman remains at large. Police have said the suspect vehicle is a white Silverado pickup.
Natalie Zamora said the family continues to pray for justice and hopes “we find the person, the people who did this.”
Road-rage incidents have been a focal point of DPD in the past two years as they appear to be at an all-time high in the city and nationally. As of Thursday, Dallas police have responded to 747 road-rage incidents in 2022, with seven of them resulting in a homicide.
The majority of road-rage offenses in the city involve shootings or someone brandishing a firearm, although people also ram cars into other vehicles, Dallas police Executive Assistant Chief Albert Martinez told The News.
The investigation into Gabriel’s slaying is ongoing. Anyone with information may contact Detective Guy Curtis at guy.curtis@dallaspolice.gov or 214-671-3581.
