Massachusetts

Worcester 17-year-old murdered days before 18th birthday

WORCESTER, Mass. — The family of a teenage girl who was shot and killed in Worcester over the weekend is pleading for justice.

Loved ones identify the victim as 17-year-old Jazmin Rosario.

They told Boston 25 News that her 18th birthday would have been on Thursday, January 20th.

The fatal shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of the Big Y supermarket on Mayfield Street.

Worcester Police are not speculating on a motive and have not announced any arrests in the case.

“She was not some nobody wandering the streets,” said a statement from the Rosario family. “She was a one-of-a-kind soul who impacted the lives of so many people with her infectious smile and charismatic personality.”

A GoFundMe page set up to help the family with funeral costs had already raised more than $6,600 by Wednesday afternoon.

People have also been leaving candles and flowers at the entrance of the Big Y.

A bigger show of sympathy has been visible at the teen’s home in Worcester, where a memorial has been growing on the front porch.

“We are pleading with the public to come forward with any information that can help bring the vile criminal who had the audacity to take our loved one’s life to justice,” the family statement went on to say.

Relatives told Boston 25 News that Jazmin leaves behind a mother, eight siblings, cousins, aunts and an uncle.

They said their family is originally from New Jersey and moved to Worcester less than five years ago.