Before we tell you how he was taken from us, we want you to know how he lived.

KOA'S STORY 💜 #55

Before we tell you how Koa was taken from us, we want you to know how he lived.

Koa Myric Medel Quintanilla was 15 years old, and he was one of those people you simply did not forget.

He had a warmth about him that drew people in. He could brighten a room just by walking into it. He had the best laugh, the best hugs, and a smile that could brighten even the hardest day. He was funny, always joking and finding a way to make the people around him laugh.

But what made Koa truly special was his heart.

He had a way of making people feel loved, included, and cared for. If Koa loved you, you never had to question it. He made sure you knew.

Koa genuinely cared about people. If you were someone he loved, he wanted to make sure you were good. He was generous without hesitation. He was the kind of person who would buy you lunch, give you his clothes, or share whatever he had.

His way of looking at it was simple.

"If I have it, you have it."

He held doors open. He helped without being asked. He listened when someone needed him. He checked on people and stood beside the people he cared about.

Koa did not just tell people he loved them. He showed them.

And nowhere was that more evident than with his family.

Koa grew up surrounded by a family who loved him deeply, and he gave that love right back. His parents, brothers, grandparents, great grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, extended family, and countless friends meant everything to him.

Being a big brother was an especially important part of who Koa was. He loved his younger brothers deeply. He helped them, shared with them, spent time with them, and looked out for them. He wanted to know they were safe and protected.

That was Koa.

He was also incredibly smart and talented.

He knew how to code and loved video games. He grew up playing football and spent years on the field. He enjoyed Jiu Jitsu and boxing. He loved going to the gym and weightlifting.

And then there was music.

Koa loved music in every capacity, and if you knew him, you knew he liked to play it loud. Music was simply part of who he was. There are songs that will forever bring him back to the people who loved him.

And anyone who knew Koa knew one more thing.

He loved a good hoodie.

Those are the things we want people to know about him.

Not simply how Koa was taken from us.

Who Koa was.

The hugs.

The smile.

The music playing too loud.

The hoodies.

The jokes.

The football games.

The way he protected his brothers.

The way he would give what he had without thinking twice.

The little things he did that made the people around him feel cared for.

The moments that make us stop now and say, "That was so Koa."

More than anything, Koa loved deeply.

And he was deeply loved.

He had friends to see, music to listen to, more games to play, more time at the gym, more memories to make with his brothers, more birthdays to celebrate, more hugs to give, and an entire future still waiting for him.

He was growing up.

And we were supposed to get to watch him do it.

We were supposed to see who he became.

Then came August 12, 2026.

Koa was headed home....

He was on Briggs Road traveling towards Garbani Road in Menifee when a vehicle came up behind him.

Koa was struck from behind.

His bike was dragged down the roadway.

The person behind the wheel stopped.

But they did not stop to save him.

They left.

Koa was left there in the roadway while the vehicle that struck him drove away.

A 15 year old boy who expected to come back home and never did.

There are moments that divide a family's life into before and after.

This was ours.

In an instant, everything that had seemed ordinary became something we would give anything to have back.

Another hug.

Another loud song.

Another football game.

Another hoodie.

Another joke.

Another moment with his brothers.

Another time hearing his voice.

Another ordinary day with Koa.

He should have had more of all of it.

More birthdays.

More mistakes to learn from.

More accomplishments to celebrate.

More dreams to chase.

More time to figure out who he wanted to become.

He should have had the privilege of simply growing up.

Fifteen years was not enough.

We cannot change what happened to Koa.

We cannot bring him home.

But as his family, we can decide what we do with the enormous amount of love we still have for him.

That is where Justice for Koa begins.

We will continue seeking justice and accountability for what happened to Koa. But we also began asking ourselves a larger question.

Where can change save another young person's life?

We want to look honestly at the roads our children travel and the ways young people are actually moving through their communities.

We want safer roads and safer infrastructure.

We want safer ways for young people to get where they are going.

We want safe, designated places for young riders.

We want education and awareness.

Most importantly, we want our youth to have a voice in the conversations and decisions being made about their safety.

And when we find somewhere that change could save a life, we intend to fight for that change.

Not because any of it can bring Koa back.

Because another child might make it home.

That is how we intend to honor him.

And we cannot do it alone.

We are asking our community to learn Koa's story. Say his name. Share his story. Sign the petitions. Host a 55 for 55 sign. Attend community events. Stand beside his family. Help us advocate for changes that can protect our youth.

Because behind every purple ribbon, every petition, every sign, every number 55, and every call for change is a boy.

His name is Koa.

He was funny.

He was generous.

He was protective.

He was a big brother.

He was a son.

He was a friend.

He loved his family.

He loved football.

He loved music played loud.

He loved a good hoodie.

He gave what he had.

He made people feel loved.

He was here.

He mattered.

He was loved beyond words.

And his story will not end on the road where his life was taken.

We will carry it forward in every life touched, every young person protected, and every change made in his name.

For Koa. For Our Community. 💜

#JusticeForKoa #LLK #55For55 #KoasWay #RideForKoa