Burying a child is a pain no parent should face, but one Colorado mother is now living that reality while searching for answers about her son’s death.
Monique Suniga Kinch describes her 19-year-old son, Silverio “Silver” Suniga, as a gentle giant — a comedian, a protector, and someone everyone loved to be around. She says she was lucky to have him as her son.
“He was our comedian. He was our protector. He loved to protect those that he loved to be around,” said Suniga Kinch.
Silverio was passionate about helping others. He was working toward a master’s degree in behavioral therapy and had taken a job supporting children with autism.
“He liked that he can make an impact and show kids love that normally wouldn’t get the love that they deserve, and to be able to communicate with them,” his mother said.
That same caring nature led him out of the house on the night of July 12. Monique says he was heading to bed when a friend reached out for help. The friend’s parents were away, and the house party they were throwing had gotten out of control.
Uninvited guests began showing up, and the friend believed Silverio could help deescalate the situation.
“They did ask that Silver come to the party and kept bugging him about coming to the party to help stop it and to break it up already,” Monique explained.
Neighbor Rev. Michael Greenwood, who performed CPR on Silverio, said the party grew quickly and unexpectedly.
“It went from 10 to 30 to 100 people within a matter of 20, 30 minutes,” Greenwood recalled.
Amid the chaos, Silverio was shot and killed. Despite efforts to save him, he didn’t survive.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office arrested one teenager but believes another suspect is still at large. Monique is pleading for that person to come forward.
“Don’t continue this because it’s only going to make it worse on yourself. You guys have already taken a beautiful life from our family, from this community. Just do what’s right now,” she said.
With the tragedy being so sudden, Monique has turned to the community for help with funeral costs. Her family, who works in woodworking, is building Silverio’s casket by hand. He will be laid to rest in the coming days.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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