Frank and Tiffany Urrutia are keeping their word, eight months after the murder of their son Ezekial, also known as Zeke. They recently presented D. Jones, the first Zeke Urrutia Firefighter Scholarship Recipient, with a $5,000 check.
Zeke died in a wrong-way crash, but his parents are determined to carry on his legacy.
The 23-year-old was killed in January when Sunshine Perez, 45, hit Zeke’s car while traveling in the wrong direction on the Florida Turnpike near Miramar, according to the police.
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Zeke was unable to fulfill his dream of becoming a firefighter and saving lives.
“Zeke was very dedicated to saving lives,” his father Frank told Local 10. “It’s something that I’m grateful for. His quote was ‘Saving lives is the most honorable thing you can do.’
“Being that he’s no longer around, I felt that it was important to create a scholarship that others take the cost to become a firefighter and to save lives that my son will never be to save.”
Karls Paul-Jones, the fire chief for the Miami-Dade College academy, has an unforgettable experience with Zeke. “Zeke was remembered for his passion and smile,” he said. “He had that spirit that he was happy to be there. And I can tell that being a firefighter was his passion.”
With the support of this scholarship, D. Jones will be able to begin his firefighter training and pursue the career Zeke was unable to finish.
“I’m extremely honored, and I won’t let him down, I’ll make sure I give it my all to the school and the whole process of fighting fire,” he said.
Following the unfortunate incident, Perez was accused of drunk driving. Charges against her include reckless driving, vehicular homicide, and DUI manslaughter.
According to CBS, Zeke’s parents pleaded with the judge via Zoom to refuse Perez bond before he pronounced his decision in May.
“I’m highly interested in seeing if Sunshine can be held without bond. The choices she made were extremely harsh. She killed my son. The choice she made to take drugs and alcohol and drive the wrong way for three miles, she should not be on the streets possibly doing this again. Please hold her without bond,” Frank Urrutia said.
“I am his mother. My son Zeke was taken by Sunshine Perez, who chose to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Zeke was my only son, my heart, my purpose, my everything. No words can describe the pain and emptiness I live with every day,” Tiffany Urrutia said. “I ask the court to deny bond. Allowing her back into the public, even temporarily, sends the message that the life of an innocent man holds no weight. My son doesn’t get a second chance. She should not be granted the privilege of freedom.”
The bond was set at $400,000 when the judge eventually ruled that all of the charges were bondable offenses.
The judge mandated that Perez be given a GPS unit, must submit to twice-weekly random drug and alcohol testing, give up her passport, be prohibited from driving, be free of drugs and alcohol, and stay in Miami-Dade or Broward.
Her next court date is set for late October.
