We are in a state of shock, a heavy blow that weighs on everyone. Emma Álvarez, the director of the La Ería Institute of Secondary Education where Erika studied, reflected on the tragedy surrounding a 14 year old girl who was stabbed while returning home in the Oviedo district of Vallobín. The calm of the school day was replaced by a rare silence as staff and students processed the news. At the entrance, grief mixed with questions about the direction of humanity, guests and families said softly as they gathered near the gates.
Minutes later, a formal tribute was held in the school yard. Students from all levels were present, from 5th and 6th grade through ESO and Bachiller and those in AP education. A long line formed in the courtyard as a sign of collective mourning. A large white balloon stood at the center, a symbol of remembrance. After three minutes of quiet reflection, Erika’s friends released the rope attached to the balloon, allowing it to rise toward the sky and fade from view as an emblem of their farewell.
Footer: A tribute to Erika at the IES de la Ería, in Oviedo. Mickey Lopez
She was described as someone who kept a classroom warm and welcoming, a student many teachers would want nearby. She was consistently helpful, part of a circle that lifted others, and always ready to lend a hand. The family is deeply respected within the school community, a testament to their enduring presence and resilience in the wake of tragedy.
School leaders also offered support for Erika’s closest friends, who accompanied her home and sought answers in the days that followed. There were four girls among a wider group of friends who looked for explanations about what happened and how things might have been different. The adults at the center recognized the need to help them navigate the difficult emotions and the sense of loss that followed, while also acknowledging the difficult questions that arise in such moments.
Erika’s classmates created a mural to honor her memory. The message they left on a large blackboard read that she was loved and not alone. At the institute, banners and expressions of grief reflected a community standing together through pain and remembrance as they gathered in silence and shared thoughts about the future.
Crime
On the day of the incident Erika left her classroom, made her way toward the home doorway, and rang the bell as she did every day. Her father and brother were inside the residence. When Erika delayed at the gate, her brother went to check the cause of the delay and discovered a trail of blood that led toward the door of 1ºE. The father went downstairs and, after realizing no one opened, contact was made with the National Police. A neighbor who encountered Erika on the stairs intervened during a critical moment, and the assailant was taken into custody. The suspect was transported to a hospital for treatment of chest, facial, and neck injuries and was reported to be in serious condition in intensive care. The investigation continued to determine the motive and gather evidence to understand the sequence of events.
In the days that followed, Erika Yunga’s family, who came to Asturias from Ecuador more than two decades ago, faced a painful period of adjustment. The family, which arrived with hopes of building a life in Oviedo, received help from local volunteers and religious communities that supported their settlement. They later joined a group that assists newcomers to find employment and integrate into the community. The story of Erika’s family is tied to a broader narrative of immigrants who found support and opportunity in the region and who contributed to the fabric of the local community through volunteer work and acts of service.