July 14, 2016
By Paul Joseph, Paragon Communications News Director –
Fernando Zamarripa is going through the motions. Zamarripa, a school teacher in Sayre and better known as, “Mr. Z,’ is mostly trying to be “there” for his brother and his brother’s family.
You see, Zamarripa, Mr. Z. lost his nephew a week ago tonight, Patrick Zamarripa. Patrick was one of the five Dallas police officers who lost his life in an ambush.
According to news reports at the time of the incident, 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson ambushed and shot a group of people in Dallas, killing the officers and injuring nine others. Two civilians were also hurt.
The shooting happened at the end of a peaceful “Black Lives Matter”- organized protest against police killings in various parts of the U.S.
Starting last night and continuing through tomorrow night, Paragon Communications will air parts of an interview with Patrick’s uncle, Fernando. The series of stories each night during the 5 pm newscast is to pay tribute and honor to one of the five slain officers, the one with Western Oklahoma connections, 32-year-old Patrick Zamarippi, husband and father.
The interview with Fernando was taken on Tuesday evening, just before 6 pm. Zamarippi will refer to incidents that may have already happened.
Last night, we heard about Patrick and Fernando’s relationship and that both shared a sense of community responsibility and one of giving back to their community and nation.
By the time of the interview, Fernando and Patrick’s family had witnessed a tribute in Dallas to the slain officers and the other victims. The national ceremony was attended by leaders all over Dallas and Fort Worth as well as the nation.
Zamarripa says it was honorable and meaningful.
He says he had some time, one-on-one with President Obama. And the subject, of course, was Patrick.
Zamarripa said that he and Patrick’s family had given a number of interviews and were worn out, however, he said he was eager to conduct an interview with his home town media and get the word out about what’s going on.
There will be a Rosary at 6 p.m. tomorrow in Fort Worth for Patrick Zamarripa. His funeral will be the following morning at the same location at 11 a.m. and will later be laid to rest.
Tomorrow night, Fernando Zamarippi will talk to us about whether Patrick died in vain or is there something that can be gained through his death. Zamarippi will share what can be learned from the deadly shootings and what Patrick would have said about the incident..
Join us tomorrow night again as we finish our tribute to Patrick Zamarippa – at 5 pm on KOOL 94 and KECO, 96.5.
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