Body Shop Owner, Father of Walmart Shooting Victim Passes Away

Body Shop Owner, Father of Walmart Shooting Victim Passes Away

Gilbert Anchondo, owner of Colormaster Auto Body in El Paso, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on the evening of Feb. 17 at the age of 60.

Gilbert Anchondo, owner of Colormaster Auto Body Shop in El Paso, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on the evening of Feb. 17 at the age of 60.

(Left to right) Tito Anchondo, Andre Anchondo, Gilbert Anchondo, Brenda Anchondo and Deborah Anchondo

Anchondo, whose collision career spanned over 30 years, was the father of Andre Anchondo who, along with his wife, Jordan, lost their lives in the Walmart shooting on Aug. 3, 2019. That shooting was considered the biggest hate crime against Hispanics the U.S. has ever seen.

Anchondo forgave the killer because he said he was not “in his senses,” plus he is a big believer in forgiveness and God, as he said in the video in this story by the BBC.

Gilbert leaves behind his small business, which he used to support his family, including baby Paul Anchondo who survived the shooting. When Paul turned 1 year old, the community held a parade for him to celebrate his birthday.

If you would like to help the family in this trying time, Anchondo’s friends have created a GoFundMe account in Gilbert’s memory.

You May Also Like

Empire Auto Parts Expands Reach with New Distribution Facility in Texas

Aftermarket collision parts distributor opens 40th facility with new hub in Dallas.

Empire Auto Parts, a leading distributor of aftermarket automotive parts, has announced the opening of its newest distribution facility in Dallas, Texas. This marks the company's eighth large scale distribution center and its first location in the Lone Star State, further solidifying Empire Auto Parts' commitment to strategically growing alongside its customers.

NORTHEAST Named to Trade Show Executive Magazine’s “Fastest 50” List

The show was recognized for the second consecutive year as one of the fastest growing U.S. trade shows held in 2023.

People on the Move

Recent personnel news that has appeared on bodyshopbusiness.com.

Consolidator Report

Consolidation news from the week of April 29.

Top 5 Stories of the Week

A recap of the top five stories on bodyshopbusiness.com during the week of April 29.

Other Posts

WIN Announces New 2024-25 Board Leadership

The Women’s Industry Network executive board executes on WIN’s vision and mission for women serving in the collision repair industry.

CIECA to Hold Webinar on Artificial Intelligence

The webinar, “The Fundamentals of Generative AI, Large Language Models and Implications for the Collision Industry,” will be held on Thursday, May 30 at 2 p.m. EST.

Guess the Car and Win $50!

Give us your answer for this month’s Guess the Car and you might win $50!

Lawson Products Acquires S&S Automotive

Like Lawson’s Kent Automotive business, S&S Automotive is an industry-leading distributor in the automotive dealership market.