A heartbroken mother from Southern California expresses her anguish over her 14-year-old son’s murderer potentially going free due to a recent shift in criminal justice laws endorsed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Maria Gil’s son, Jeremy Rosales—also known as “Tank,” a soccer player—was tragically killed near their Victorville home in January. She shared with the Post that under California’s Proposition 57, one of the individuals who attacked her son, a 16-year-old, could be released by age 25.
“This is all about Proposition 57, Gavin Newsom,” Gil remarked, noting she last saw her son on the morning of January 16, the day of the shooting. “This affects us—the victims and their families.”
Proposition 57, which was put into action with the help of then-Lt. Governor Newsom and signed into law by then-Governor Jerry Brown in 2018, aimed to reduce the state’s prison population by limiting local prosecutors’ ability to treat juveniles as adults.
Now, prosecutors must undergo a lengthy jurisdiction change hearing to prove that an alleged juvenile offender is not likely to be rehabilitated in a juvenile facility.
Gil recounted that her son, a promising lineman at Oak Hills High School, had gone to Mojave Vista Park—just a short distance from home—after dinner that Friday evening. It was a popular spot for local kids, generally used for soccer practices.
However, for reasons still unclear, Jeremy was shot and killed near the intersection of Glen Canyon Lane and Burwood Avenue that night. San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies arrived around 8:21 p.m., finding the 14-year-old alive but gravely injured. He was taken to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
In the weeks following the incident, investigators arrested Abel Ramirez, 27, and a 16-year-old on suspicion of murder relating to Rosales’ death.
The teenager is currently in custody at the High Desert Juvenile Detention Center, while Ramirez is at the High Desert Detention Center on a $1 million bail. Ramirez has pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing is set for Thursday.
Gil mentioned that investigators informed her the teenage suspect was related to Ramirez, but they have yet to determine the motive behind the crime.
Jeremy was deeply involved in football at Team Elite Sports Academy and performed well academically at Oak Hills High School, his mother noted.
A GoFundMe page for him highlighted, “Tank was more than just a teammate; he was family,” aiming to help with the funeral costs.
“His loss has shaken our community to its core,” the page reflected.
About 300 people gathered at a vigil in Hesperia to pay tribute to Jeremy, holding candles and releasing balloons while exchanging a final football chant in his memory.
“Humble. Hard worker. Decent student. Great son. Great teammate. Perfect student-athlete,” recalled Elliott Reyes, one of Jeremy’s coaches. “Jeremy doesn’t deserve this. Nobody does.”
Gil remains confused about the killer’s motivations, stating that her son was lured to the park where he met his tragic end.
A representative for Newsom mentioned that Proposition 57 received substantial support in the 2016 general election, before Newsom took office in 2018.
The mother is advocating for amendments to Prop. 57, pushing for the ability to charge teens as adults in cases of violent crime.
Additionally, she is joining efforts with other victim families pushing for legal changes, including Central Valley father Stephen Quick, whose son was shot in a McDonald’s parking lot last year.
Last week, Gill and Quick participated in a rally in Sacramento, advocating for changes to Proposition 57.
“It’s incredibly hard to accept that my son isn’t coming home,” Gill expressed, tears filling her eyes.
“I believe the state of California should impose stricter penalties for juveniles committing such crimes,” she added.
