Family of Coachella teen murdered during tropical storm continue to seek justice

It's been one year since 16-year old Joseph Aroz was gunned down in his Coachella neighborhood, yet there have been no suspects named, and no arrests.

His family says the year has brought more questions than answers, but they aren't letting his memory be forgotten.

"We miss him a lot. It's been really hard,” said his sister-in-law Arlene Paz. “He didn't get to meet my son, so that's what breaks my heart. And he loved his nephews, he loved his family, he loved his friends. He was he was amazing.”

Aroz was shot and killed on a Sunday just outside his family's home in the middle of Tropical Storm Hilary. The investigation into his killing remains ongoing, but his family is hoping members of the community will bring the killer to justice.

"We got a call that he was shot and we weren't sure what happened," said Paz. "We were trying to get answers. We were calling everybody. They finally called us back, and they said, 'He's been shot. He's not like waking up.' His mother came, and that's when they she saw him, and he was gone.”

Becuase it happened during Tropical Storm Hilary, flooding along the roads made it difficult for emergency crews to make it to Aroz. His body remained on the sidewalk for several hours.

"He was right here in the water, just face down," said Paz. "It didn't really make any sense as to why it took them that long and for his body to just be here and everybody to see. There was a lot of people recording his body on the floor. If it was your brother, if it was your son, how would you feel if someone was recording their body lifeless there on the ground.”    

Paz and her family have tried reaching out to authorities for answers, it hasn't helped.

"They don't really get back to us. They just tell us the same thing, that they're working on it," said Paz. "I feel definitely really frustrated because they feel like if they really wanted to, they would have solved this case, because I know there's a lot of cameras and people recorded, and people know things. They're just afraid to come forward."

The family says they aren't giving up until his killer is arrested.

"For his life to just get taken so suddenly, like that, and no one wants to help us out, and no one wants to give us answers," said Paz. "If you if anybody out there has any information out there that can help us and solve his case, you know we would greatly appreciate it."

Paz also had a message for his murderer.

"I won't ever forgive you," said Paz. "You took someone so important away from us at sixteen. He was sixteen, and he deserved so much more in life. He deserved so much more. He deserved to grow up with his nephews, to grow up with his cousins, to go to college, to do what he wanted to do. Shame on you for taking his life away, and you know who you are, and I hope they catch you. I really do. I really hope they catch you.”

Aroz was one of eight children in his family, and last year a GoFundMe was created to help fund his memorial and funeral expenses. "On August 20th we lost our beloved Jojo, he was only 16 years old. Jojo was loved by all of us, by so many...our world will never be the same," reads the caption on the page.

Aroz's family is urging community members to contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Department if they have any information on the shooting.

The family is also offering a reward for anyone with information. Email arlenepaz098@gmail.com

News Channel Three's Tori King reached out to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to see if they have uncovered any new leads.

Anyone with information on the murder is encouraged to call Investigator Sturhmann at the Thermal Station at 760-863-8990 or Investigator Brown with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.