Angel Carbajal Laid to Rest
Paul Dalrymple
Rites for boxer's brother ask for end to violence
By William Hermann
The Arizona Republic
March 30, 2000
Boxer Michael Carbajal walked slowly beside the closed silver casket of his
little brother on Wednesday, escorting it up the aisle at Immaculate Heart
Catholic Church.
More than 500 mourners bowed their heads, many weeping, as Angel Carbajal's
casket and somber family members passed.
"They are a real familia, very close, and they offer tremendous support to
each other," said Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, who attended
the Phoenix ceremony.
Angel Carbajal, 29, was shot to death early Sunday during a fight outside a
bar on East McDowell Road. Leonardo Martinez, 24, who police say is a gang
member, was arrested and jailed on a charge of homicide.
The family insists Carbajal was not a gang member. But he was indicted in
January, accused of armed robbery and trying to coerce a man into joining a
gang.
"There are many things Angel didn't do right, clearly," said the Rev. Saul
Madrid. "But there are things he did remarkably well.
"In the boxing gym and other places, Angel tried to make life better for
children."
As the service drew to a close, Madrid looked out over the congregation. The
slain man's 8-year-old son, Angel Jr., wept in the front row.
"How many people have to be killed before we do something about it?" Madrid
asked. "Our children are dying in the streets.
"After we have buried Angel, we have to be serious about what we must do to
put an end to the violence that has overtaken us.
"The violence must stop with us."
i cheehuahua.
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> As the service drew to a close, Madrid looked out over the congregation. The
> slain man's 8-year-old son, Angel Jr., wept in the front row.
What an awful position for this child to be in. As sad as it is that
his father was slained...I can not help but to think how much sadder it
is for a child to lose his father. I hope this dramatic and tradgic
event doesn't ruin this young boys life. I hope truley that the
Carbajal's can get together as a family unit and help pull each other
through their terrible loss...especially all the children in the
family. Death is hard enough to explain...then add into the factor that
it was murder. I really feel sad that I live in a world that is prone
to violence. In a perfect world, all wars and conflicts would be
settled with a pair of boxing gloves and a square circle. My deepest
regards to the family and friends of Angel...but especially to the
children and the to his son...who I am sure lost his hero. God Bless
the family and give them the strength to carry on.
i cheehuahua