Loved ones gathered Friday night to mourn Luis Canseco, a 17-year-old Vista resident who was left for dead in the middle of the street earlier this week. NBC 7’s Dave Summers speaks to the teen’s heartbroken mother who is desperately searching for answers.
More than 100 people gathered in Vista Friday night to remember 17-year old Luis Canseco, a local who was found dead in the middle of the street on Oct. 25.
Now, family and friends of the teen say they want answers.
Canseco's body was found in the middle of Smilax Road around 8:34 p.m. Tuesday night. Authorities have sealed the autopsy but family members told NBC 7 that the teen was shot multiple times, beaten and then left in the street.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Officer ruled Canseco's death as a homicide.
"It was too brutal and he shouldn't have gone down like this," his mother, Yakima Canseco said.
Canseco, a senior at Twin Oaks High School, worked full time last summer painting houses and was about to start a part-time job this year, his family said. They described the teen as a hard-working, happy and polite young man.
"I just miss him and he was just amazing," Yakima said.
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The family told NBC 7 that Canseco had been walking down the street with a friend when he was attacked by a group of people who pulled up next to them in a car.
During Friday night's vigil, those whose lives were touched by the teen gathered at the place where his body was found--the crowd of people spilling into the street.
His mother told NBC 7 that she would often sit down with her son and they would have discussions on how to make their lives better.
"I wanted him to be married. I wanted to see his children grow, everything," Yakima said. "He was just--they took him away."
Deputies don't have any suspect information at this time or a motive but they are investigating whether this homicide is gang related.
Meanwhile, Canseco's mother has a message for the community.
"We need to stick as a community and we need to stop all this violence. It needs to stop. No mother should have to bury their own child," she said.
