New Orleans artist pays tribute to Kenner boy who died after ice cream truck crash
A local artist painted a moving tribute for the Kenner boy who died following a crash involving an ice cream truck.
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Updated: 2:19 AM CDT May 30, 2023
ALL RIGHT, AUBREY, WE’LL SEE YOU THEN AT 5:00. TURNING NOW TO A TRAGEDY TURNED INTO A GIFT. THE FAMILY OF A 12 YEAR OLD WHO WAS CRITICALLY INJURED AFTER AN ICE CREAM TRUCK HIT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN KENNER SAYS THEY ARE PREPARING TO DONATE HIS ORGANS. WDSU REPORTER ARIELLE BRUMFIELD IS LIVE AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS WITH THIS UPDATE. ARIELLE. WELL, TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE FLORES, FOR JARRED HILL FAMILY IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THEY WANT THEIR SON, JAVIER TO LIVE ON AND THEY SAY THE BEST WAY THEY CAN DO THAT IS BY DONATING HIS HIS ORGANS AS A GIFT TO OTHERS. HIS FATHER SAY HE’S READY TO GO TO HEAVEN, BUT HE’S GOING TO STAY IN EARTH GIVING LIFE, GIVING SECOND CHANCES. AFTER SEVERAL SURGERIES AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FROM DOCTORS AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS, FAMILY FRIEND AND PASTOR OF THE GERARDO FAMILY, LEWIS BURSE, SAYS THEY’RE PREPARING TO GIVE GIFTS OF A LIFETIME ORGANS. 12 YEAR OLD JAVIER ADRIAN FLORES PICHARDO WAS CRITICALLY INJURED LAST SATURDAY WHEN POLICE SAY 71 YEAR OLD MICHAEL YUSEF MANSOUR DROVE HIS ICE CREAM TRUCK FULL SPEED INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN KENNER, HITTING FAJARDO, WHO WAS BURIED UNDER THE WRECKAGE. CONCERNED ABOUT HIS HEART THE WAY HE LEFT. BUT NOW WE HAVE PEACE IN HIS HEARTS. THEY KNOW GOD HAVE MORE, MORE WORK FOR HIM. A CHILD WHO LOVES TO HELP OTHERS FULL OF LIGHT AND LIFE. I’M TOLD HE HAD A HUGE HEART THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BEAT ON THE FAMILY. CONFIRMED DOCTORS INFORM THEM ALL OF JAVIER ADRIAN’S ORGANS, WITH AN EXCEPTION OF HIS BRAIN, WILL HELP SOMEONE ELSE. THEY REALIZE THEY’RE THAT HE WAS A SMART KID. HE ALWAYS TRIED TO HELP. MORE KENNER POLICE ARRESTED THE DRIVER, MICHAEL YOUSSEF OF MANSOUR, WEDNESDAY FOR NEGLIGENT, INJURING AND RECKLESS OPERATION OF A VEHICLE. BUT WE’RE TOLD ONCE THE CORONER RELEASES AN UPDATE, CHARGES WILL BE INCREASED TO NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE. STILL NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED DURING THE CRASH OR WHY THE FAMILY SAYS THEY ARE FOCUSING ON THEIR BEAUTIFUL BOY WITH A BIG HEART. HE’S STILL SHINING. HE’S STILL BREATHING IN THE HEARTS OF MANY, MANY PEOPLE. AND JAVIER ATTENDED ACL, ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND UNTIL THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF THOSE SCHOOLS SENT DONATIONS AS WELL AS CARDS TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THE FAMILY. REPORTING LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS FROM CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, I’M ARIEL BRUMFIELD, WDSU NEWS. YEAH, THIS IS HEARTBREAKING. FOR ALL OF US. ARIEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT UPDATE. AND JP SCHOOLS DID RELEASE A STATEMENT SAYING THIS, QUOTE, THE DISTRICT CRISIS TEAM IS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME. OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES ARE WITH THE FAMILY AN
New Orleans artist pays tribute to Kenner boy who died after ice cream truck crash
A local artist painted a moving tribute for the Kenner boy who died following a crash involving an ice cream truck.
![WDSU logo]()
Updated: 2:19 AM CDT May 30, 2023
A New Orleans portrait artist is helping honor the life of a Kenner boy who died after a speeding ice cream truck crashed through his apartment.Rodney King decided to paint a portrait of 12-year-old Javier Adrian Flores Fajardo as a superhero. It's a powerful painting that the artist will soon gift to Javier's family. He said he reached out to relatives to get permission to paint the boy as SuperJavier since he's a fan of Superman."This young man is donating his organs to save other lives, seven or eight lives, I believe. That is one of the most beautiful things that anyone can offer, yet alone a young man that had a lifetime ahead. I would also like to extend my deepest condolences and prayers to Javier's family and friends," King said.King has done portraits for fallen officers and other notable people in the community to honor their lives.Javier Adrian Flores Fajardo suffered a skull fracture and other injuries in the crash, which occurred at his home in the 300 block of Clemson Place on May 20th. He was formally pronounced dead on May 26. Fajardo's family made the decision to donate the boy's organs after it became clear that he would not recover. His memory will live on in the lives he helped save. Funeral arrangements are pending, but we're told it will be held at Berbo Church in Kenner in the coming weeks.
NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans portrait artist is helping honor the life of a Kenner boy who died after a speeding ice cream truck crashed through his apartment.
Rodney King decided to paint a portrait of 12-year-old Javier Adrian Flores Fajardo as a superhero. It's a powerful painting that the artist will soon gift to Javier's family. He said he reached out to relatives to get permission to paint the boy as SuperJavier since he's a fan of Superman.
"This young man is donating his organs to save other lives, seven or eight lives, I believe. That is one of the most beautiful things that anyone can offer, yet alone a young man that had a lifetime ahead. I would also like to extend my deepest condolences and prayers to Javier's family and friends," King said.
King has done portraits for fallen officers and other notable people in the community to honor their lives.
Javier Adrian Flores Fajardo suffered a skull fracture and other injuries in the crash, which occurred at his home in the 300 block of Clemson Place on May 20th. He was formally pronounced dead on May 26. Fajardo's family made the decision to donate the boy's organs after it became clear that he would not recover. His memory will live on in the lives he helped save.
Funeral arrangements are pending, but we're told it will be held at Berbo Church in Kenner in the coming weeks.
