The University of New Mexico community is mourning the tragic loss of a student, friend and brother.
Dezmond “Dez” Ravenel was stabbed in his apartment on Nov. 27 during an altercation with his younger brother, D’Andre Ravenel, who admitted to killing Dezmond when Albuquerque Police Department officers arrived on scene. He claimed Dezmond had become physically aggressive first, but APD found no physical wounds to support this statement. D’Andre has since been charged with murder.
Dez was a standout athlete in high school, in both football and track. In college, he was a popular member of the Pi Kappa Alpha, or “PIKE,” fraternity at UNM. He was studying international business, with a focus on Japan, where he had hoped to live one day.
His death came as a shock and a tragedy for friends and family.
Fraternity brothers Estephan “Stavi” Candelaria and Isaiah Escobar remember him as a positive force in their lives.
“We used to laugh and laugh over nothing, so I’ll truly miss him just bringing that certain light, love and laughter into my life whenever he was around,” Escobar said.
“He was the best brother a man could ask for,” Candelaria said.
Dezmond is remembered for his passion and talent for sports, as well as his quirky personality and love for the Pokémon character, Pikachu.
“He loved his mother, family, friends, Pikachu and the Green Bay Packers in that order — and he loved hard,” Candelaria said.
“The last time I spoke to Dez was the Sunday for Thanksgiving. I texted him in the early morning, ‘I love you bro,’ and he replied with, ‘Love you too.’ I’ve been comforted this week knowing that was the last thing we said to one another. He was such a remarkable friend and human being, who proved that selflessness, love, hard work, kindness and loyalty will get you wherever you need to in life, and I am so grateful that I will forever be able to call him one of my best friends,” Escobar said.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to PIKE, which will donate the funds to a charity in honor of Dezmond’s legacy.
A memorial service for Dezmond will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.
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Gabriella Rivera is a news reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @gabbychlamps.
