Caught in the Crossfire: Colorado Springs mother mourns 13-year-old son 25 years after his murder

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- At just 13 years old, Gino Romero had already made more of an impact than some make in a lifetime.

"He was something else, he was. He was loving and- and I know everybody says that, but he really was. He was funny," his mom, Jennifer, tells KRDO while recalling who he was. She added that the two had a special bond.

"Gino loved me unconditionally," she said. "He would just always make me feel good no matter what."

On May 24, 1997, Gino got into a car with some of his friends. That was the last time she'd see her son alive.

"They're joy riding, thinking they're really hot stuff riding around in this low rider car," Jennifer said.

Jennifer believes the four boys in the car were looking for a party, but Gino wasn't supposed to be out that late.

"Two of them were like 17, and then Gino and another boy were 13 years old, and they were in the backseat. They had borrowed the car," she said. "This other guy who owned the car earlier that day got into an altercation… I guess there was gunfire or something between them. Well, instead of putting away the car or whatever, he let these kids go out in the car."

Later that night, law enforcement said they believe the men involved in the fight came across the car involved.

"Instead of even looking to see who is in the car, or if who they're looking for is in the car - they sprayed it with bullets. They just sprayed," Jennifer said. She describes how Gino slid down in the car to hide, but it wasn't enough. "A bullet went through the trunk into his head, and that's what got him."

Investigators believe Gino was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"He was an innocent, he was a child that had so much ahead of him," Jennifer said. "600 people went to his funeral. He was special. People loved Gino. People loved him. People still love Gino."

Jennifer said losing her son didn't just affect her. His death affected people she didn't know, like a little boy who came up to her at his funeral.

"[He] waited for me for hours and hours and hours, just so he could tell me Gino took care of him at school and it wasn't gonna be the same without him because he always defended him and he was scared to be without Gino now," she recalled.

Jennifer held candlelight vigils and begged investigators to find the men behind his death. Two years later, police finally arrested a man named Juan Candelaria. After two more years of trial, he was convicted. However, police believe he was just the driver, not the shooter.

Police later issued warrants for two men who they believe pulled the trigger, ultimately taking Gino's life. However, nothing came of either of those warrants.

"They ran, both of them," Jennifer said. "We've never caught them."

Eventually, law enforcement dismissed the charges against one of the men, believing he died in Mexico. They also got word the other shooter died in Mexico too, but they decided to leave his warrant active, just in case.

Former District Attorney Dan May said they can refile those charges any time if either of the men surface.

Jennifer believes the men are still alive.

"In all reality, they got away with it in this life. They really should have paid for it in this life," she said.

She still prays that after all these years, by some miracle, the men might be caught.

"I would be able to die in peace knowing that I didn't leave something on done that my son had to deal with," Jennifer said. "Still, after all these years, his killers are not brought to justice, and I feel like that's a shame on me. You know, I didn't I didn't do what I was supposed to do. I didn't get justice for my baby. I tried. I tried so hard."

In the months after Gino's death, Jennifer turned her grief into action, helping others whose children were taken. She founded a nonprofit called "MOMY," Mother's of Murdered Youth. Despite the name, Jennifer says it's not just for mothers, it's for everyone.

Jennifer says her nonprofit has helped thousands of families dealing with the same pain she faced and continues to deal with.

"There's nothing in life that is worse, and there's nothing in life that will ever be harder, and I tell them all the time," Jennifer said.

She's had strangers come to stay with her, she's purchased tombstones for families, and she's gone to every candlelight vigil in town. For a quarter of a century, Jennifer has dedicated her life to helping others.

"I think the biggest thing that they need is somebody not only to talk to you not only to listen, but somebody to help them not give up," she said.

She's never given up hope on getting complete justice for Gino.

"He so deserved it, he was, he was great," Jennifer said.

To learn more about MOMY, click here.