NewsPinellas County

Actions

Slain Parkland teen made into cutout to raise awareness on gun violence

Posted at 3:27 PM, Sep 10, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-10 15:27:05-04

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Fan cutouts at Major League Baseball stadiums can be entertaining.

However, a grieving family in Broward County is using a cutout using her son's picture to spread awareness on the need to end gun violence.

Joaquin Oliver, 17, was among those killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018.

Joaquin's parents say the teen was a huge sports fan so they placed cutouts of their son at more than a dozen MLB stadiums so far, including Tropicana Field.

The family is sharing the photos on social media pages for their nonprofit that raises awareness about mass shootings.

Joaquin previously made headlines after his family revealed the slain teen was buried in a Dwyane Wade jersey. The NBA star was so touched by the gesture that vowed to dedicate the remainder of the 2017-2018 season, the year Wade returned to the Miami Heat, to Joaquin.