Fort Worth PD is investigating the shooting that claimed the life of 19-year-old Anthony Rangel.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth resident Tierra Varela will always cherish videos of her and her boyfriend, Anthony Rangel, the love of her life.
“He always went out of his way to make me feel special,” Tierra said. “Holidays, birthdays, Valentine’s Day. He was the person who would go out of his way for you. And even my friends. Even people he wasn’t close to.”
Family and friends surround Tierra as she tries to make sense of the gunfire — intended for someone else — that took Anthony’s life.
“He was such a good person and he had such a magnetic smile,” she added.
Tierra and Anthony, who had just celebrated his 19th birthday on June 10, attended a weekend party on North Houston Street. Around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Fort Worth Police say an argument between a girl at the party and an unknown guest escalated to gunfire that struck three people. Anthony was the only one who did not survive.
“It was senseless,” Tierra said. “It wasn’t targeted towards him.”
Fort Worth Police say the shooting suspect left the party after the shooting in a vehicle, but did not share a vehicle description. The Fort Worth PD Homicide Unit is investigating the shooting, although no arrests have been made so far.
The young couple was inseparable — they attended prom together and vacationed together.
“I’ve known him since eighth grade, so about five, six years,” Tierra recalled. “And we started dating our sophomore year of high school.”
They talked every single day. Being home on summer break has made them even closer since she is entering her sophomore year at Baylor University.
The shooting deeply affected Tierra’s father, who was brought to tears.
“Made me appreciate being a father a little bit more and that my kid was able to come home,” said Juan Varela, Tierra’s father.
Tierra introduced Anthony to many of her extended family members on both her mother’s side and her father’s side of the family. Her father even came to love Anthony and explained why he trusted him with his daughter.
“He’s a very kind kid, so I could tell,” Juan said. “I could tell his heart. And he always looked out for my daughter. Took care of making sure she was good.”
Her mother, Silver Varela, added: “I can’t imagine the pain they’re going through of having to bury their son.”
Tierra’s mother has started a fundraiser to help Anthony’s family with financial burdens, including funeral expenses.
“I just wanted to help ease the financial burden that they were going to face in the coming weeks and months with mourning their son’s loss,” Silver said.
As Fort Worth police continue to investigate who is responsible for the gunfire, Tierra hopes Anthony will never be forgotten.
“I want them to remember the kind of person he was, because he was so full of love for everybody,” she said.