14 DAY TRIAL // A 14-year-old boy was killed in Lubbock, Texas over the weekend by getting impaled in the horns of a bull sculpture.
Miguel Martinez died on the Texas Tech University near the National Ranching Heritage Center, a museum dedicated to cattle herding that boast five large bull sculptures in front.
"He just happened to trip over one of the lights. I guess he lost his balance and he went straight down on one of the horns. [...] It's hard for all of us. No mother expects this to happen to their child," his mother Judith describes.
Martinez was playing hide-and-seek with another teen when he ran and tripped at roughly 3 a.m. on Saturday, June 22. KCBD reported that their families were with them at the time, but they separated themselves from them.
His friend Jeremy witnessed the entire incident and recalled calling an ambulance upon noticing Miguel getting hurt.
"I just laid there beside him. I put my jacket over him and just held him tight and told him I loved him. [...] He was like a big brother to me," Jeremy said.
Martinez impaled his chest and died almost instantly, most likely by crushing his internal organs.
"A couple of family members had a hard time with it. There was anger. [...] But they put their heads together and realized this is for their brother, and this is a time to hold on to each other," Judith describes in a vigil held for her son.
She plans to raise money for his burial and has put together several events over the next few days.
"It's a blessing to see everyone come out and help, especially for me. I know Miguel had a lot of friends who looked up to him," she notes.