It’s been six years since Marshall Middle School student Josue Flores was killed walking home from school. This past May, he would have graduated from Northside High School.

To commemorate what would have been his commencement, METRO has dedicated a new bus shelter in his name outside the high school.

The ribbon cutting took place Friday, Oct. 14, with a gathering of students, educators, elected officials, METRO representatives, and members of the Flores family.

“We will never understand why such a promising life was cut short early, but his spirit certainly lives on in this community,” said METRO Board of Directors Chair Sanjay Ramabhadran.

Since the tragic events that greatly impacted the Northside community, several local initiatives have been created. One of them is Safe Walk Home, a program dedicated to making sure every child safe walking to and from school.

Northside High School Wraparound Specialist Deborah Denman saw an additional need and came up with the idea to provide students with city bus passes. She reached out to METRO, and the partnership was born.

“This project has been in the works for some time now,” said Denman. “For those of you who know me, I’m persistent, and I insisted that this would happen this year.”

Now, thanks in part to METRO’s Adopt-A-Stop program, area students and the entire Northside community have an additional bus stop with shelter from the elements.

“This is a true testament of what partnerships can accomplish when they put their minds together,” said Northside High School Principal Cecilia Gonzales.

The public can view the memorial for Josue Flores outside Northside High School at the intersection of Quitman and Tackaberry streets.