Alex Acosta had a lot going for him. He was studying to be a physical therapist at Fresno State, was part of a gospel choir, worked with disabled folks and his girlfriend had a baby on the way. Sadly, a senseless shooting has taken his talents from our community.
“I never would imagine it would happen to him,” said Richard Graham.
Graham is the President of Fresno City College’s Black Gospel Choir. He used to share classes with Alex Acosta.
“The gentleman really showed a lot of high quality,” said Graham.
Graham says Acosta was on a path to success after battling through a troubled past.
“I don't know the extent of it, but he pulled himself up and came out of it. He was working to get his education, his degree. Hopefully to finish out, get his masters and teach one day,” said Graham.
Acosta was shot and killed Wednesday night in central Fresno at the Cambridge West apartment complex. Police say someone fired a gun at him while he stood in his doorway.
“For once we are seeing an African American young man killed and there were no gang affiliations tied to it, no drugs tied to it,” said Pastor David Criner of Saint Rest Baptist Church.
Pastor Criner says Acosta was not part of his congregation, but was friends with college students who were.
“It has affected these kids in a way that they are shell shocked. I'm getting messages from them asking me why and I don't have an answer for them,” said Pastor Criner.
Pastor Criner says he wouldn't have to answer if we just took a stand to end the violence.
“Because people will do as much as they want to do as long as we let them. The moment we stand up against it, we let people know you can't push us around and you can't take our kids out of our community without going through us first,” said Pastor Criner.
One way you can take that stance is by bringing Acosta’s killer to justice. If you know who is involved in this murder, turn them in by calling Fresno Police at (559) 621-7000.