St. Paul Latino community mourns the loss of Gabriel “Gabe” Arrazola and demands answers
- Harry Colbert, Jr.
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Friends wonder if his killing is a possible hate crime
Gabriel “Gabe” Arrazola was planning to have a home cooked meal prepared by his sister on May 24 once he returned from an outing.
He never got to have that meal.
Arrazola was found dead the next day along train tracks near the 1400 block of Case Avenue on St. Paul’s East Side. His death is being investigated as a homicide. But friends and family of Arrazola say the investigation doesn’t seem to be a priority for St. Paul police.
“It’s been nine days since Gabriel was killed and no one (from the police) has called me,” said Paola López-Cortés, who is one of the last known people to see Arrazola alive. “I waited all week for a knock on the door, a phone call, something, so I could provide information.”
López-Cortés said it should be basic police work for someone to have contacted her.
“If anyone watches crime shows, don’t you go to the last place a victim was seen?” questioned López-Cortés. Have they knocked on any of my neighbors’ doors and asked for Ring camera footage … something? I live by a bank, I’m sure they have something. They could trace where Gabriel went after leaving my house.”
“We’re the ones doing the investigation, we’re the ones creating the timeline (from when Arrazola was last seen,” said Maryanne Ligeralde Quiroz, co-founder of Indigenous Roots and close friend of Arrazola.
Another of Arrazola’s close friends, Alejandro Gamino Betolla, said the case seems to be moving backwards.
“We feel frustrated, powerless and deeply disappointed by the lack of communication, transparency and urgency in obtaining answers about what truly happened,” said Gamino Betolla. “It’s difficult to accept that after a full week, and after hearing statements that seemed to suggest the investigation was close to being resolved, authorities are now asking for the public’s help to solve the circumstances surrounding the loss of our beloved Gabriel.”
What’s distressing to many of Arrazola’s friends, aside from the brutal manner in which it appears he was killed, is also having to wonder if his death was a result of his lifestyle, ethnicity or both. Arrazola, a native of Oaxaca, Mexico, was a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
“It’s a real possibility (his ethnicity and lifestyle is a factor as to why he was killed). In this political climate there are a lot of crazy people out there with a lot of hate in their hearts, so we can’t dismiss that possibility.” said López-Cortés.
Ligeralde Quiroz said during Pride month, the way to honor her friend is to find whomever is responsible for his death.
“While we celebrate Pride, we’re celebrating Gabriel. And celebrating Gabriel is demanding justice for him,” said Ligeralde Quiroz, who said Arrazola lived with her and her family when he first moved to Minnesota.
“He (Arrazola) didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Spanish, so we communicated in smiles and hugs,” said Ligeralde Quiroz.
A community vigil and ceremony takes place at 6 p.m., followed by a fundraiser and silent auction at 8 p.m at Indigenous Roots, 788 E. 7th St. in St. Paul. Proceeds from the fundraiser and auction will help support the repatriation of Arrazola’s body to Oaxaca, and help provide financial sustenance for his family.
Power 104.7 reached out to St. Paul Police for comment, but at the time of publication had not heard back.