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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Houston-area residents were shocked and deeply |
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saddened by the tragic shooting death of Cesar Cortes on January 14, |
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2020, at the age of 19; and |
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WHEREAS, A senior at Bellaire High School, Cesar Cortes was |
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the commander of the school's Junior Reserve Officers Training |
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Corps Delta Company; he was killed in the JROTC supply room before |
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drill practice when a younger cadet was showing off a handgun and |
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pulled the trigger, hitting Mr. Cortes in the chest; the shooter |
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was convicted of manslaughter in January 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, Cesar Cortes was an outstanding young man who |
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inspired others with his natural leadership ability; deeply |
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patriotic, he had already enlisted in the U.S. Army; he was quiet, |
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serious, and hardworking in school, and those who shared in his love |
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and friendship were drawn to his kindness, sense of humor, and |
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winning smile; and |
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WHEREAS, The death of Cesar Cortes devastated his family, |
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including his mother Cecilia, father Antonio, and brother Dylan; it |
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also traumatized his school and his community; adding to the |
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anguish, several individuals reported only after the fatal shooting |
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that they had seen the younger cadet at school with the gun in his |
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possession earlier on that terrible day; moreover, the campus had |
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two previous instances of weapons possession reported in discipline |
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data for 2018-2019, and in that period, more than two dozen cases |
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were reported across the Houston Independent School District; and |
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WHEREAS, Cesar Cortes planned to devote his career to the |
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defense of his fellow Americans, and his life can best be honored by |
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ensuring that no other family endures the heartbreak and loss that |
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his loved ones have endured; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Cesar Cortes and |
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express support for stronger firearms safety measures. |