Family of killed teen has message for other parents

LAS VEGAS – The family of 13-year-old Fabriccio Patti is mourning the loss of their son who was shot during last Friday night by a store clerk at a smoke shop.

Patti and two other teens entered the store wearing masks and attempted to steal items, police said.

8 News NOW anchor Christianne Klein spoke with the young teen’s father who has an important message for parents.

Patti’s father Martin was too distraught to appear on camera. He and his wife are trying to help their young daughter understand her brother isn’t coming home.

He had a simple message: Keep an eye on your children. Check on them, because he thought everything was ok and it wasn’t.

That message was also relayed by police and community leaders during a news conference.

“This young boy, 13 years of age would have never done this act of theft that got him in a situation where he lost his life if he would have been alone,” said Pastor Troy Martinez.

It was a decision that cost 13-year-old Fabriccio Patti his life. Now, his parents are left mourning the loss of their only son.

“All the information that I have is this was a really good family and good parents. He wasn’t from a broken home. It should never have happened. This whole thing should never have happened,” said Metro Lt. Dan McGrath.

That message was echoed several times during the Tuesday news conference.

Her voice breaking, Metro Captain Roxanne McDaris made an emotional plea to the entire community noting one mistake can forever alter lives.

“It’s not news that children in a middle school should be given,” she said. “It’s something that we want our parents and our children to know, that one decision, that one mistake can change your life.”

That mistake is also affecting Fabriccio’s schoolmates as well.

His father said, his young friends are also grieving and are gathering mementos to remember his son.