PARKLAND, FL, U.S.A.
STUDENT, MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS H.S, PARKLAND, FL
02/14/2018, PARKLAND, FL, U.S.A.
Joaquin Oliver died February 14, 2018 in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. He was 17.
Joaquin was born in Venezuela August 4, 2000. He moved with his family to the U.S. at the age of 3. Joaquin became a naturalized American citizen in January 2017.
Among friends at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he was known as “Guac”. His interests were football, basketball, the Venezuelan national soccer team, urban graffiti and hip-hop.
Sam Bailin, a senior on the lacrosse team, said he was close to Oliver.
“He was a great kid,” Bailin said. “He was the most optimistic kid I’ve ever met. You’d see him in the hallways and he was always saying hi to everyone. He cared about everyone else. He was just a great kid. You always felt his energy when he was around.”
On the morning of Valentine’s Day, Joaquin Oliver walked into school with flowers and a plan for a date with his girlfriend.
He was a supportive brother, thoughtful friend and beloved son, known for his loyalty. He was a brilliant writer authoring beautiful love poems and thought-provoking short stories. He was proud of his Venezuelan heritage, his skills on the basketball court, and his diverse taste in music.
Joaquin’s final social media post was dedicated to his girlfriend, Victoria Gonzalez.”Thank you Lord for putting a greater blessing than I could ever imagine into my life this past year,” he wrote. “I love you with all my heart.”