The 14-year-old has been wearing his military uniform since he was 6 years old.
Last Sunday, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office responded to call about a person walking around in a military uniform while carrying a gun in the Falcons Landing neighborhood, which is just outside of San Antonio. When police arrived, they encountered 14-year-old Diego Mercado, a young military buff and congenital amputee who had been out with his airsoft rifle, a type of air gun and replica toy weapon. Mercado has been wearing camos since he was 6 years old.
“I knew this would happen eventually. A new resident comes in, I look like a soldier, you see a guy walking around with an AR, I understand that, but it has a big orange tip at the end,” Mercado said. “I set the record straight,” Jason said. “I've gone through great lengths to inform them that he’s a kid and this is what he likes to do and I support him in that, and help them understand the reasons why he does what he does.”
“I just want them to feel safe and comfortable with me walking around,” Mercado said. “And I don't want to be seen as a threat. I just want to be seen as a friend to this neighborhood. I want to know everybody. I just want everybody to be friends.”“We have an entire country filled with other Diegos,” Jason explained. “There's kids with special needs that want to be a part of the community [and] I think Diego represents that.
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