Family members and friends gathered to share memories at a memorial for Chula Vista teen Anthony Hofer Wednesday night, remembering the teen who many described as a kind soul.
“He just seemed to love a little more and just be kinder than most people,” said his uncle, Jim Sandoval, at the celebration of his life.
Pictures of Anthony's smiling face lit up Swiss Park in Chula Vista where the ceremony was held. Because the Olympian High School junior loved soccer, his friends showed up in jerseys at his family's request.
Teammate Christian Escalante says Anthony planned to go pro with his skills.
"He would be able to see stuff before it happened," Escalante said of the teen's soccer skills.
A giant "A" for Anthony overlooks the growing memorial where the 17-year-old was found dead in the brush last Thursday on the 2300 block of Heritage Road.
Anthony's best friend Eddie Olsen was praised, after the ceremony, for trying to bring new safety measures to the Chula Vista Road where his friend died. So far, more than 2,000 people have signed Olsen's online petition urging the City to install surveillance cameras and speed bumps on the road.
“I wanted to bring something positive from Tony's tragedy," Olsen said. "The first thing I thought of was making the street safer.”
The body of Anthony Hofer was found last week in some brush near Sleep Train Amphitheater. A jogger made the discovery Thursday morning along a path Hofer would often walk, his friends say. It was just five minutes from his home.
Chula Vista Police homicide detectives have questioned several witnesses and obtained video surveillance footage from the area to try and determine what may have happened to Hofer.
The family contacted police after midnight Thursday, according to a department spokesperson.
Hofer was found on the side of the road next to a tree with trauma on his face and parts of his body. He was wearing no shoes or socks when he was found, officials said.
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Hofer's death appears on the surface to be the case of a hit-and-run incident, Chula Vista Police spokesperson Lt. Lon Turner. However, investigators are waiting for results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Olsen says regardless of what’s found, action needs to be taken.
“That road is still very dangerous and we need to do something about it," Olsen said. "I’m very disappointed in my city that we haven't made a change sooner.”
“Anthony’s death is sad and tragic," City spokeswoman Anne Steinberger said. "Because the cause is still under investigation, it's too early to determine what would need to be done."
She noted Heritage Road is on the development map for future changes.
Anyone with information on the incident can call Chula Vista homicide detectives at (619) 691-5151.
