Santa Rosans march against deputy's killing of boy

Law Jones speaks to the crowd after a march through Santa Rosa demanding justice for Andy Lopez Cruz, 13, ended at the sheriff's office in the city. Law Jones speaks to the crowd after a march through Santa Rosa demanding justice for Andy Lopez Cruz, 13, ended at the sheriff's office in the city. Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Santa Rosans march against deputy's killing of boy 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

Angered by what they called a senseless killing, hundreds of students and neighbors marched through Santa Rosa on Friday to protest the death of a 13-year-old boy shot by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy who thought the toy rifle he was carrying was real.

The rally happened on the same day that Sheriff Steve Freitas announced the FBI will conduct an independent investigation into the shooting. Freitas said his office "will cooperate fully with the FBI and welcomes their participation."

The protest attracted youths from middle and high schools, as well as relatives and friends of Andy Lopez Cruz, who was killed Tuesday near his home outside Santa Rosa. The group set off at noon from City Hall on a march to the sheriff's office.

"An-dy, An-dy," many yelled as they pounded on the sheriff's office windows. The charged crowd grew to about 300 at the height of the 2 1/2-hour demonstration.

Santa Rosa police officials investigating the shooting said a sheriff's deputy fired eight shots at Andy - who suffered seven wounds - after he and another deputy saw the boy walking with an AK-47 replica that fired plastic pellets.

Authorities said the deputy, a 24-year veteran, twice ordered Andy to put down the gun before firing when the boy began to turn around.

The shooting, which happened a third of a mile from Andy's home, stunned a tight-knit community of mostly Latino families.

"I wish Andy was here to see how much we're supporting him," said Jael Rodriguez, 15, a freshman at Elsie Allen High who grew up with Andy and played with BB guns in the field where the boy was shot. "What happened to him wasn't right."

Gabriel Barragan, 39, brought 10 family members to the rally, including his 13-year-old daughter, who knew Andy well. Barragan, who has lived in Andy's neighborhood for 21 years, said residents had grown accustomed to a certain tension with police because the area has gang activity.

The relationship, though, has generally been healthy, he said.

"But now a lot of us are mad for the actions one cop took," he said. "The police are supposed to protect us, not shoot our kids."

Some parents allowed their children to skip school for the rally.

Seana Ramirez, 35, said her 13-year-old son, Eric, called her at work to tell her he wanted to march. She said it was the first time her son had expressed an interest in political action.

"The kids are pissed off, and they want their voice heard," Ramirez said. "If the kids are the future, they should have the loudest voice and we should listen."

Some marchers carried fake guns. One had a sign reading, "A badge is not a license to kill."

Cesar Nicasio, 12, carried a sign that read "F- the police." He said Lopez was a friend and that he blamed the deputy for shooting too quickly.

"It was bad," he said of his feelings toward police, "but now it's really messed up."

Law Jones, a community organizer who spoke at the rally, called for students to express outrage but be peaceful.

"These young people are angry right now, and I see a lot of fear in their eyes," Jones said. "They have a desire for action, but they don't know how to voice it. We need to manifest this anger and fear and turn it into power that can transform."