Sac State students gather for vigil to mourn death of William Molina
President Robert Nelsen announced Molina be honored as a graduate this May
Dominic Vitiello - State Hornet
Brothers of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Sac State hold a vigil for William Molina, the 21-year-old student who died in a pellet gun shooting on Friday morning. Among the vigil’s attendees were other Sac State Greek members and President Robert Nelsen.
April 15, 2019
Sacramento State community members gathered Sunday night to honor the memory of 21-year-old student William Molina with a candlelight vigil.
Molina was killed by a pellet gun early Friday morning at an “off-campus gathering,” the university said in a press release.
Emergency services arrived at a home on Lycoming Court shortly after 3 a.m. and transported him to UC Davis Medical Center, where he later died, according to a statement from the Sacramento Police Department.
RELATED: Sac State student killed at ‘off-campus gathering,’ university says
Molina was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, and had been on schedule to graduate this May as a business major.
There was a strong showing of solidarity from the Greek community at the vigil, many of whom shared memories of Molina amid a large gathering in the library quad.
Story continues below tweet.
A brother of Pi Kappa Alpha asks the the crowd to please bow their heads in a moment of silence. @TheStateHornet pic.twitter.com/g7H4thUyC5
— Dom_V. (@Dom_Vitiello) April 15, 2019
Those who spoke made frequent reference to a kind young man, who was quick to lend an ear and converse with friends and acquaintances alike.
Sac State student William Molina, 21, was killed Friday morning in a pellet gun shooting. He was a business major on track to graduate in May and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha.
“I was tasked with teaching him how to be a scholar, leader, athlete and gentleman,” said Sac State alumnus Ethan Winslow. “But he was all of those things already. We were lucky to have him.”
Sac State President Robert Nelsen was in attendance and addressed the crowd to announce that Molina will be honored as a graduate at commencement ceremonies in May.
Though brief in length the message had a noticeable impact on the crowd, inducing an emotional response.
“We’ve been working on it all week and we’ve got it all planned. I’ve spoken to his family about it and we will have a diploma for him. He will graduate,” Nelsen said. “It’s a real loss, but we came together as a family and maybe we can heal as a family.”
Story continues below photo.
A student kneels at the memorial made to honor Sac State student and Pi Kappa Alpha member William Molina at a candlelight vigil on campus Sunday night. Molina died early Friday morning.
Pi Kappa Alpha member and athletic chair Sam Chimenti declined to comment.
Following the speaking portion of the vigil, students took turns placing candles at the foot of a memorial, which featured a picture of the Molina family.
Students filtered out slowly, while many in the Greek community remained, embracing in a circle in front of the monument.
Nolan Parker • May 1, 2019 at 10:45 am
He was shot in the chest with a pellet gun, went unresponsive and is now in cardiac arrest,”
Passed out at a frat party. Some idiot thought it would be funny to shoot the guy. The current crop of pellet guns are, from close range, actually able to be deadly. But some people just don’t understand basic weapons safety. An idiot accidentally killed someone. But who?
As for the details not being things everyone should have, how better to avoid such a tragedy? Or would you prefer more poignant vigils?
Jackie Euer • Apr 18, 2019 at 8:41 am
I am so sad to see the comments on this. Having had the privilege of attending the vigil, I saw an amazing community of fraternity, sorority, general student population, campus employees, and especially President Nelson, honoring the member of an outstanding student and human whose life has been cut short, tragically. The details might be no one’s business, except for the family and the investigators. Those of us that attended the vigil witnessed young people who are becoming well educated, who are caring, thoughtful, articulate, and understandably emotional at this time. May God bless Will Molina’s family and friends.
Nolan Parker • Apr 17, 2019 at 8:16 am
And the Ohhh so Proud reporter, excited to see his article prominently publicized, comes to read the comments to see the glowing response.
Surely now would be a good time to do the actual research that would support such an article. This POS waste of time wouldn’t get a passing grade in junior high. But you keep trying.
James Voss • Apr 16, 2019 at 9:19 pm
What is this shit? Where are the damned facts? Where is the reporting? You’re a fucking half-wit, Mitchel Bobo.
Carbuncle • Apr 16, 2019 at 8:50 pm
Suicide.
Louis Hooffstetter • Apr 16, 2019 at 3:25 pm
I agree with Nolan:
Who shot him? The article doesn’t say.
When exactly was he shot? The article doesn’t say.
Where exactly was he when he was shot? The article doesn’t say.
Where exactly in the body was he shot? The article doesn’t say.
Why was he shot? The article doesn’t say.
This is not journalism.
This is crap.
Nolan Parker • Apr 16, 2019 at 12:59 pm
Great reporting.
No type of pellet gun.
Nothing about where he was hit.