TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Family: Teens Brought Alcohol To Party That Turned Fatal

ADVERTISEMENT

By TIFFANY LANKES

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: August 1, 2008

SARASOTA COUNTY - There were three adults at the birthday party where 18-year-old Gregory Kennedy was killed, and one of them ended up in the hospital with a concussion after being struck by the same group of teenagers.

Audrey Eaton, the grandmother of party host Robert Herrera, provided details this afternoon about the events that unfolded at the party for her grandson on Monday.

Eaton said that her son-in-law, Max Herrera, was knocked unconscious during the brawl that ensued when a group of uninvited teenagers showed up at the house. She drove him to the hospital a few days later and doctors determined he had a concussion from being struck in the back of the head.

Her daughter Beverly Herrera, who was also at the party, had bruises from trying to pull the teens away from each other.

Eaton said she wanted to come forward with her family's side of the story. She said Max and Robert Herrera has declined to comment about the incident on the advice of their attorney.

And Eaton believes people are unfairly pointing fingers at her son-in-law, assuming he was responsible for giving the teens alcohol at the party.

"The whole family's been crying from day one, including Max," Eaton said. "He's very upset."

Eaton said that Max and Beverly told her they did not give the teenagers alcohol, but that a group of students who arrived to the party later brought it with them.

The parents originally planned a small bowling birthday party with their son with about eight of his closest friends. But when they returned to their home, more teens showed up, and the group grew to about 20.

Eaton said the whole family was shaken up by the incident, especially Robert, who she said will be one of the pallbearers at Kennedy's funeral.

"They were just trying to make a happy birthday for Robert," Eaton said. "I think Robert's going to have a terrible birthday from now on. He'll always remember that as the day his friend died."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT