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Slain man has baby on the way
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When Jordan Holden's girlfriend, Alison Chambers, 20, gives birth to the couple's son, due in January, she plans to name the boy after his late father, Holden's family said Tuesday.
Holden, 22, was shot in the abdomen early Sunday and died at Shannon Medical Center. He and a group of friends apparently surprised armed intruders at a friend's home, according to San Angelo Police. Holden was shot, witnesses told police, while coming to the aid of his friend, homeowner Lee White.
Police are still investigating the incident and on Tuesday had no further details to release, said Lt. Curtis Milbourn, a police spokesman. No one has been arrested, and no suspects have been named.
Holden was exceptionally athletic and loved children and animals, his family said Tuesday, and he was looking forward to being a dad. His mother, Karen R. Holden, said he could be stubborn and was sometimes so honest that it was difficult to bear.
"I remember when he was little, he wanted to rent 'Where the Red Fern Grows' over and over, but it would make him cry every time," she said. She eventually had to persuade him to stop watching it.
Holden also remembered a trip to New York City she took with Jordan and his brother, Andrew Zapata Holden, when Jordan was about 15.
They drove to New York City and then on to Florida and back to San Angelo in 10 days without a map.
"We did everything they did on 'Seinfeld'" Karen Holden said. "We always meant to go back."
Jordan Holden attended Cornerstone Christian School and later transferred to Central High School to pursue athletics more seriously, said Pamela Miller, a close family friend. He was particularly good at soccer and basketball.
"He was so close to his friends - that's become clear," Miller said. Several of those friends have pitched in to help pay for funeral expenses.
Holden's death also was hard on his older brother, Andrew Zapata Holden. The two were a year apart in age, and as they grew up, people frequently thought they were twins.
This year, the brothers wrote a rap song together and recorded it - Andrew is a signed recording artist.
"He died trying to save somebody else," Andrew said. "He's my hero. That's the most honorable death."
Jordan's father, Edward Zapata, said he doesn't feel a lot of resentment toward his son's killers, but he does want them to be caught. He said he knows that whatever happens, it won't bring his son back.
"I don't feel anger toward those guys because I don't think they intended to kill him," Zapata said.
But, Zapata said, he doesn't understand why the intruders were carrying a gun if they didn't intend to use it.
"There's a hole in my heart, and it hurts," Zapata said. "I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy."
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Posted by taydeezy on July 23, 2008 at 9:04 a.m.
jordan and andrew had the closest connection of any brother i had ever seen. my prayers are with you andrew, ali, karen, and edward. i know that jordan jr. will be as funny, smart, and as outgoing as jordan was. one thing that always surprised me was jordans vocabulary. everyday for awhile he would look up a word in the dictionary and randomly through it in a convo with friends. nothing can bring him back but he will continue to live on in the storys and hearts of his friends.
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