‘He Could Make Anybody Laugh’: Friends Mourn Murdered 14 Year Old Allegedly Shot to Death by Father Because He Was Gay

‘He Would Rather Have a Dead Son Than a Gay Son’

14 year old Giovanni Melton was allegedly shot to death Thursday by his father because he was gay. It was, according to Giovanni’s foster mother, not the first time 53-year-old Wendell Melton pulled a gun on his son. Sunday night friends and neighbors gathered at a vigil to mourn Giovanni’s death.

“Shocked” and “super sad” is how one high school student described her feelings. 

Another friend told KTNV she too was “in shock,” and said Giovanni kept his problems to himself. “He was just always happy,” she said. “He made the best out of what he had,” she added.

“He was goofy, he was funny, and he could make anybody laugh,” another friend said.

Giovanni is believed to have been living alone in the apartment he was killed in.

His father, Wendell Melton, reportedly had once pulled a gun on his son after finding him with his boyfriend.

“Giovanni was abused physically and mentally and spiritually for many, many years,” Giovanni’s former foster mother, Sonja Jones, told LasVegasNow.

“He hated the fact that his son was gay,” said Jones. “I’m sure that inside of his mind, he would rather have a dead son than a gay son.”

“Giovanni attended Coronado High School, where staff made the announcement in the first period Friday,” LasVegasNow reports.

“He always had a smile on his face,” one of Giovanni’s classmate said.

Counselors were also available for students to speak to on campus.

“We talked about our favorite things about him,” one student said. “One word to describe him; how he made us feel.  How we were feeling.” 

Reporter John Langeler: “What was your word?”
Student: “I said that he was selfless.” 

Citing court documents, the local CBS affiliate also reports “a complicated past for the Melton family.  There was a lingering custody battle for  Giovanni and his sibling, that included being abandoned by their mother, along with Wendell illegally having guns and threatening his family with them.”

There was even an allegation against Wendell that he beat Giovanni.

That report shows there were six gins in the house, and Giovanni’s biological mother had abandoned him.

To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.

Hat tip: The Advocate

If you find NCRM valuable, would you please consider making a donation to support our independent journalism?