Stunned friends, family help lay to rest young victim in iPad slaying

By Jackie Valley

Friday, May 24, 2013 | 4:36 p.m.

The teenagers gathered Friday afternoon outside St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church had just said goodbye to one of their own: 15-year-old Marcos Vincente Arenas.

Many wore blue ribbons and watched in solemn silence alongside Arenas’ family as pallbearers wheeled the casket containing their friend’s remains toward a cream-colored hearse. The vehicle’s next stop, Palm Northwest Mortuary and Cemetery, would be Arenas’ final resting spot.

“I’m like in shock,” said Carlito Quesada, 15, who met Arenas in middle school.

Arenas, a freshman at Bonanza High School, was killed May 16 while being robbed of his iPad near Charleston Boulevard and Scholl Drive. Metro Police said one of the suspects in Arenas’ death, Jacob Dismont, 18, struggled with the teen over the iPad. In the process the other suspect, Michael Solid, 21, ran over Arenas with a sport-utility vehicle. Arenas later died at University Medical Center.

Quesada, who met Arenas in seventh grade, said he had been crying off and on all week. Asked about his friend, Quesada spoke of Arenas in the present tense.

“He’s a great friend,” Quesada said. “He’s good at everything he did.”

Arenas’ uncle, Edward Figueroa, described his nephew as a “great kid” who loved playing sports, hanging out with friends and going to school. Arenas was the oldest of 10 siblings, he said.

“He never did anything wrong,” Figueroa said. “He got good grades.”

Figueroa spoke outside the church before the funeral Mass, which Arenas’ family wished to be private for family and friends.

Arenas’ father gave him the iPad as a birthday gift March 20, Figueroa said.

“He loved it; he cherished it,” Figueroa said. “I understand why he fought for it.”

Dismont and Solid each have been charged with counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and murder with use of a deadly weapon. They are in the Clark County Detention Center without bail.

What boggles Figueroa’s mind is why anyone would prey on Arenas or, for that matter, any child or young teen.

“It’s sickening,” he said.