Randy Gatewood will always remember his daughter for the way she made others feel better after talking to her.

“As she got older, she loved meeting people and communicating with others,” the former Rattlers star receiver/defensive back said. “You always left a conversation with Randi feeling much better than you did before the conversation.”

Randy Gatewood lost his daughter on April 24 in a shooting. She was 21.

According to Gilbert police, it responded to a shooting call at a home near the 2000 block of East Boot Track Trail just after 4 a.m. April 24. When officers arrived, they located Gatewood with gunshot injuries. Gatewood was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

A 24-year-old male suspect, identified by police as 24-year-old Jordan Jones, an acquaintance of Gatewood, had left the residence prior to police arriving, Gilbert police said in an email. Police said Jones was later located with what was believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound and transported to the hospital.

Police had no further updates Sunday.

Randi Gatewood graduated from Gilbert Mesquite High School in 2017. Randy said his daughter was a member of the dance team.

She followed her dad to Rattlers games when she was little, before he retired in 2007. Gatewood, who played 12 seasons for the Rattlers, was a big part of the Rattlers’ 1997 ArenaBowl championship team and was named the league’s Ironman of the Year in 2003 and 2006. His jersey No. 17 was retired by the Rattlers in 2008.

“From the time she was a little girl,” Randy said, “she always brightened the room.

“She was very strong in her faith and connected with many people in regards to that.”

Randy said his daughter was involved in Young Life, which, he said, “provided a foundation for her to share her story and to mentor others who maybe were not so strong in their faith.”

He said she loved attending Rattlers games.

“That smile was everything,” Randy said. “That smile told the story of exactly who she was.

“Life has forever been changed. Not just for me and our family but for everyone who knew her. I am very proud and very fortunate to be her father.”

Services are being held Monday at noon at Central Christian Church in Gilbert. Viewing will begin at 11 a.m.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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