The City Council held an emergency meeting Wednesday evening to increase the reward for information leading to arrests for the murder of Jose Morales, 17. The reward, previously set by police at $1,000, is now $10,000.

With only five of seven members present, the council voted unanimously to raise the reward.

"The smallest of details could be crucial in solving this case," said council member Matt Pear. "Someone had to have seen something."

Merales was shot to death Feb. 26 on the 100 block of Higdon Avenue, a few buildings away from his own apartment building. So far, police say they have no witnesses and little to go on.

Though Merales was not a known gang member, police have not ruled out the possibility that his killing was somehow connected to gang activity.

Merales attended Alta Vista High School last year before leaving the school. His family has chosen not to comment about Merales, and his funeral last Tuesday at St Joseph Church was notably quiet, as family, friends, former classmates and school officials mourned his loss.

Those with information are urged to call police at (866) 570-8211. People may call anonymously and still receive the reward. Each caller will be given an identification number.

"We'll never know, quite frankly, the impact this young man could have made in this world," said Oscar Garcia, president of Mesa de la Comunidad. "His life was tragically taken."

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