The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation announced in a news release that Ezekiel “Rudy” Almazan and Deven Antonucci, the two Amarillo teenagers tragically killed in a recent shooting, will be formally honored and remembered through the Foundation’s “Trees for Peace” initiative, a living memorial program dedicated to preserving the memory of young lives lost to violence.
As part of this commitment, the Foundation confirmed that two memorial trees — one for each life lost — will be planted in the Davy Crockett National Forest, creating a lasting tribute rooted in reflection, remembrance, and renewal.
Honoring lives through lasting memories
The Trees for Peace initiative was established to ensure that the lives of children and youth lost to violence are remembered not only in grief, but through meaningful, enduring acts of remembrance according to the release.
According to the information provided by Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, each tree represents:
“These are not just memorials — they are living reminders,” said Daniel Chapin, Founder and President of the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation. “Each tree stands for a life that mattered, a future that should have been, and a commitment that we will continue to carry forward.”
The Foundation selected Davy Crockett National Forest as the site for the Amarillo memorial plantings, noting its natural setting provides a space for quiet reflection, healing, and long-term remembrance.
This announcement comes as the Foundation continues to provide direct, ongoing assistance to families impacted by the Amarillo shooting through its National Emergency Relief Fund, including financial assistance, funeral and memorial support and ongoing trauma recovery support.
“All of this work — whether it’s direct aid or memorials — comes back to one thing: making sure these families know their children are not forgotten,” Chapin said.
The Foundation emphasized that the Trees for Peace initiative is part of a broader commitment to long-term remembrance and support for families affected by violence.
“In the days after tragedy, there is an outpouring of support,” Chapin said. “But remembrance has to last longer than that. These trees are one way we ensure that it does.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Nonprofit to plant 2 trees in memory of slain Amarillo teens
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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