Annasue Rocha, Martin's shooting victim, laid to rest Friday

 

ELKHART, Ind.--  Annasue Rocha's mother’s cries echoed through Elkhart Northside Church of the Nazarene Friday as dozens and dozens lined up to pay their respects for the 19-year-old.

"I just remember her as a very creative person," said one friend, Estefani Ramirez.

Rocha was an artist.

"I have a box of her drawings," said friend Nataly Balcazar. "I've known her since we were in third grade. We grew up in the same class."

"We would sit next to each other on the bus. She would show me her drawings that she did in her notebook," said another friend Yathira Diaz.

"She brought a lot of sunshine to all of our worlds," said friend Rut Arias. "She was very uplifting. She gave the best advice."

Rocha was shot and killed while working at a Martin’s Supermarket in Elkhart Jan. 27. A gunman opened fire inside the grocery store after selecting his victim, shooting her multiple times.

He also shot and killed 49-year-old Ben Jeffery and injured two police officers before they took him down.

The terrifying tragedy shook Elkhart to its core. Some paid respects to their favorite Martin's clerk Friday.

"For me, my favorite part of her personality was she never backed down from an argument," Balcazar said. "Like if you challenged her to an argument, you will sure as hell lose."

Rocha was bilingual; much of her family speaks Spanish. She loved to draw; she wanted to draw animations for a living. She was shy, but when she thought no one was looking, one friend said, you could catch her doing little dances.

"She was always smiling, always cracking up the jokes, always giggling and making us all laugh at the same time," Ramirez said.  

Valerie Jeffery attended today’s visitation. She’s the widow of Ben Jeffery, the other victim of the Martin’s shooting. Rocha’s family attended his funeral as well.

Two families— forever connected by tragedy.