A heartbroken mother from Southern California is lamenting the fact that the person responsible for her 14-year-old son’s death will soon be set free, all due to a criminal justice reform law championed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The tragic case has highlighted the ramifications of Proposition 57, which was designed to address the state’s overcrowded prison system.
Maria Gill, the mother of young football star Jeremy Rosales—affectionately known as “Tank”—shared her anguish with The Post. Her son was tragically shot near their Victorville home in January, and one of the alleged perpetrators, a 16-year-old, is expected to be released by the time he reaches 25, as specified under the provisions of Proposition 57.
“Proposition 57—that’s all Gavin Newsom,” Gill expressed, still grappling with the loss since the morning of January 16, the last day she saw her son alive. “It’s impacting us victims and families,” she added, highlighting the emotional toll the law has taken on her and others in similar situations.
Proposition 57, which was initially supported by then-Lt. Gov. Newsom and enacted into law in 2018 by former Gov. Jerry Brown, sought to decrease California’s prison population. One of its significant measures was to remove the power of local prosecutors to charge juveniles as adults directly.
Under this legislation, prosecutors are required to request a hearing to transfer jurisdiction and must demonstrate that the accused cannot be rehabilitated within the juvenile justice system. This aspect of the law has sparked debate and concern among victims’ families seeking justice.
Reflecting on the night of the tragedy, Gill recounted how her son, an outstanding lineman at Oak Hills High School, was enticed to Mojave Vista Park in Victorville for what was supposed to be a casual Friday night outing after dinner. His untimely death has left a void in the lives of those who knew and loved him, casting a shadow over the effectiveness of Proposition 57 and its impact on victims’ families.
The popular hangout spot with local kids less than a mile from their house frequently hosted football practices, she said.
But for reasons that remain a mystery, that night Jeremy was shot near the intersection of Glen Canyon Lane and Burwood Avenue in the residential area.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Deputies said they were called to the scene at about 8:21 p.m. and found the 14-year-old alive but badly wounded. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but later died, cops said.
San Bernardino detectives investigated the case and two weeks later arrested Abel Ramirez, 27, and an unnamed 16-year-old on murder charges for the killing of Rosales.
The accused killer teen now being held at High Desert Juvenile Detention Center and Ramirez is locked up at High Desert Detention Center on $1 million bail, officials said.
Ramirez pled not guilty and is due in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday.
Gill said investigators told her that the teen is the nephew of Ramirez, but the motive of the pair remains unknown to her.
Jeremy was a dedicated football player at Team Elite Sports Academy and excelled academically at Oak Hills High School, his mom said.
A GoFundMe page created to help his family cover funeral expenses said, “Tank wasn’t just a teammate, he was family.”
The fundraiser said: “His loss has shaken our community to its core.”
Roughly 300 people attended a vigil in Hesperia to honor Jeremy after he died, where mourners held one final football chant in his honor, accompanied by candlelight and a balloon release.
“Humble. Hard worker. Straight A student. Great son. Great teammate. Perfect student-athlete,” one of Jeremy’s coaches, Elliott Reyes told CBS News. “Jeremy by far didn’t deserve this. No one deserves this.”
A spokeswoman for Newsom said Prop 57 was overwhelming supported by the voters in the 2016 general election — before Newsom was elected in 2018.
Gill said Prop 57 ought to be reformed and permit prosecutors to charge teens as adults for violent crimes.
She supports other victims’ families pushing for change to the law, such as Central Valley dad Stephen Quick, whose son Caleb last year was shot and killed in a McDonald’s parking lot.
Gill and Quick were among a group of victims’ loved ones who traveled to Sacramento to protest for change to Prop 57 last week.
“It’s been so hard for me to overcome, knowing that my son is never going to come home,” Gill said tearfully.
“If a juvenile is willing to commit a crime, then I feel that California needs to have a harsher punishment,” she said.
