Latest news with #DaikerlynGonzalez
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Jet ski operator indicted in Memorial Day death of teen kayaker Ava Moore on Grapevine Lake
A woman accused of fatally striking a teen kayaker with a high-speed jet ski on Grapevine Lake over Memorial Day weekend has been indicted, the victim's attorneys said Friday. A Tarrant County grand jury indicted Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez, 21, on a charge of manslaughter in connection with the death of 18-year-old Ava Moore. Gonzalez is an undocumented immigrant, authorities said. If convicted of manslaughter, Gonzalez faces two to 20 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine under Texas law. Gonzalez allegedly fled the scene with a man who later crashed his car before escaping. A passenger on the jet ski stayed and spoke with officers, and Moore was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries. According to Moore's attorneys, her family is grateful the case is moving forward but remains heartbroken and devastated. "Ava was a bright light with a promising future, and her life was taken far too soon," attorney Ty Stimpson of the Varghese Summersett law firm said in a statement. "The Moore family asks for continued prayers and privacy as they continue on their journey toward healing." Stimpson said the family is conducting an independent investigation into water patrol policies, enforcement protocols, and safety measures at the local, state and federal levels. "We are committed to holding accountable any individual or entity whose actions — or inactions — contributed to this tragedy," Stimpson said. The family and legal team, Stimpson said, are pushing for legislative and policy reforms to improve waterway safety, including increased patrols, more visible signage for designated zones, and a dedicated emergency response line for waterway incidents. "Texas lakes can be extremely dangerous without proper oversight, and meaningful reforms are necessary to protect the public and prevent future tragedies," Stimpson said. "Lake safety must be a priority — not just during high-traffic holidays, but every day." In late May, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Gonzalez is an undocumented immigrant and that the man who helped her flee the scene is also undocumented. Authorities also charged Maikel Alexander Coello Perozo, 21, with hindering apprehension or prosecution, a Class A misdemeanor under Texas law. "Ava Moore's senseless death was caused by an illegal alien who should have never been in our country in the first place," Paxton said in a May statement. "My heart breaks for Ava's family and friends, and my prayers are with them as they face this tragedy. My office will continue to work with local, state, and national law enforcement partners to secure justice for Ava." Law enforcement said the woman driving the jet ski fled the scene with a man, who later crashed his car into another vehicle before driving off. A passenger on the jet ski remained at the scene and spoke with officers, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. A family member said they are "completely devastated" by Moore's death and that their "family will never be the same." Lisa Scrabeck, who was at the lake, said she helped render aid to Moore after she was pulled ashore. She checked for a pulse and heartbeat and confirmed that Moore was wearing a life jacket, which was removed before CPR began. "She didn't suffer in agony," Scrabeck told CBS News Texas. "It's very tragic, and I extend my deepest condolences to the family. I can't imagine being the parents of this young girl. But one thing I can say is that she didn't suffer from the moment I saw her." Scrabeck also noted that she had seen the women on the jet ski "driving recklessly" throughout the day.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Photos: Funeral held in Fort Worth for Ava Moore, killed in jet ski hit-and-run
The United States Air Force performed full military honors Saturday at the funeral of the 18-year-old woman killed in a jet ski hit-and-run crash last weekend at Grapevine Lake. Ava Moore graduated from Keller's Timber Creek High School in 2024 and played basketball at the U.S. Air Force Preparatory Academy, her family said. Moore was set to attend the U.S Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as a member of the class of 2029. Moore was kayaking at Grapevine Lake on May 25 when police say 21-year-old Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez struck her with a jet ski before fleeing the scene. Gonzalez was arrested two days later and faces charges including second-degree felony manslaughter. While driving the jet ski, Gonzalez 'recklessly made several passes along the shoreline with wanton disregard to the safety of others and at a speed and manner that endangered others in the area, before eventually colliding with one of two kayakers paddling near the shoreline,' according to an arrest warrant affidavit. While Gonzalez' bond has been set at $500,000, she will not be released due to an immigration detainer, officials said at a news conference last week. Gonzalez is an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela. A GoFundMe for Moore's family has raised over $50,000.
CBS News
30-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Ava Moore, killed in Grapevine Lake jet ski crash, to be laid to rest this weekend
What could happen to the suspects in the deadly Grapevine Lake jet ski crash? What could happen to the suspects in the deadly Grapevine Lake jet ski crash? What could happen to the suspects in the deadly Grapevine Lake jet ski crash? Family of the teen who was killed in a jet ski crash on Grapevine Lake will be celebrating her life this weekend. Ava Moore, 18, was kayaking at the lake on May 25 when she was struck and killed by a jet ski with two women on it, police said. Her funeral is Saturday afternoon at a church in Fort Worth. Ava Moore, 18. U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications Moore graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School less than a week before the crash and had accepted an appointment to join the Academy as a member of the Class of 2029. According to the City of Grapevine, full military honors will be conducted by the U.S. Air Force at the end of the service. Suspects in the jet ski crash could face deportation The driver of the jet ski fled the scene by jumping into a vehicle with a man at the park, according to police. Two days later, that man and the suspected driver, Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez were taken into custody. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Dallas agents confirmed the two suspects are in the U.S. illegally. Gonzalez and Perozo are both Venezuelan nationals who are in the U.S. illegally, according to Josh Johnson, the acting Dallas field office director for ICE. Johnson said the two crossed the southern border in 2023 or 2024 and were arrested once they got to the U.S., processed and released. Once they are done with state charges, Gonzales and Perozo will be turned over to ICE and see an immigration judge to determine if they will be deported. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott revved up criminal responsibility in the death of Moore. He posted on social media, "Welcome to Texas. Here's your death penalty." CBS News Texas pressed Abbott for clarity because the suspects' charges and the facts, as written by investigators, have not reflected a capital crime. In response to the inquiry, Abbott's press office shared the following statement: "The State of Texas has no tolerance for heinous criminals who kill Texans. The victim's family deserves swift justice, and the criminal illegal immigrants should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All Texans deserve protection from unchecked criminal activity."
Fox News
29-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Illegal aliens arrested in death of Air Force cadet candidate had suitcases packed: report
Packed suitcases were found during the arrests of two illegal aliens charged in the death of an Air Force cadet candidate over the weekend. Over Memorial Day weekend, 18-year-old Ava Moore was killed while kayaking on Lake Grapevine in Texas after she was hit by a jet ski. The suspected driver of the jet ski and a man who allegedly helped her flee, both illegal aliens from Venezuela, were arrested in Dallas Tuesday. Daikerlyn Alejandraa Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 22, was charged with second-degree manslaughter, a felony. Maikel Coello Perozo, 21, is accused of picking her up and fleeing. Authorities allege Perozo hit another vehicle while speeding off. He has been charged with a collision involving damage to a vehicle and hindering apprehension, both misdemeanors. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 4, the suspects were found with their bags packed at the time of their arrests. Perozo reportedly told police he helped Gonzalez flee so she could avoid being captured. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department led the investigation. President Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security on Thursday slammed the previous administration for open-border policies it says led to the death of the Air Force cadet candidate. "Ava Moore was a patriot serving her country when she was killed by an illegal alien in a hit-and-run over Memorial Day weekend. This senseless tragedy was 100 percent preventable," DHS said in a post on X. "Daikerlyn Gonzalez and Maikel Perozo entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 and were released into our interior," the post continued. "The previous administration's open border policies have cost too many Americans their lives. President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue to stand with victims of illegal alien crime and their families." At a news conference Wednesday, Joshua Johnson, acting field director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Emergency Removal Operations in Dallas, first confirmed the pair were present in the United States illegally. "It's my understanding that both the individuals crossed the southern border in 2023 or 2024," Johnson said. "They were arrested at the time of entry, processed on a notice to appear and then released on their own recognizance." He said ICE filed detainers for the suspects, and they will be processed for removal after criminal proceedings are concluded in Texas. Moore was remembered as a star basketball player whose lifelong dream was to be a four-star general in the military, according to her coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado. "You know, we talked throughout the course of the year that, at some point in her career, she was going to be a four-star general because she loved it," Ke'sha Blanton told FOX 4. "She made those around her better. "They took a bright, bright star from our lives." Moore was scheduled to begin as an Air Force cadet in the upcoming weeks and was part of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2029, the school confirmed.
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Very revealing social media posts of migrant suspect, 21, charged with killing Air Force cadet in jet ski crash
The migrant woman now charged in the death of an Air Force cadet in a jet ski crash in Texas can be seen scantily clad and modeling bikinis in new videos, including the suit she wearing the day of the crash. In an online reel, Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez, 21, can be seen modeling multiple revealing outfits and swimwear in a video posted to her Instagram account in January. The Venezuelan migrant included a snap of herself in a blue and multi-colored print bikini-- the same two-piece she was wearing the day she crashed into and killed 18-year-old Ava Moore. The Air Force cadet was kayaking on Grapevine Lake in the Dallas area, when authorities say a jet ski driven by Gonzalez was speeding and hit Moore. Local cops even released a photo of her in the bikini after she fled the Memorial Day crash, although she was arrested Tuesday in Dallas after police were flooded with over 900 tips pointing them to her. Gonzalez is now charged with second-degree felony manslaughter, and a woman who was her passenger in the watercraft is not facing any charges since she did stay at the scene, Texas Game Wardens stated Wednesday. Another Venezuelan, Maikel Coello Perozo, 21, has also been charged for helping her escape from police and crashing into two cars in the process. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that the pair crossed into the US illegally through the southern border in either 2023 or 2024, although a spokesman for the agency declined to say whether either of them have pending asylum or Temporary Protected Status cases. 'Once the state of Texas goes through the process on the criminal charges, we'll take custody of them,' Joshua Johnson, Acting Field Director of ICE ERO in Dallas, explained during a press conference with law enforcement Wednesday. During her time in the US, Gonzalez posted cheeky videoes of herself online, showing off her bottom in various bikinis and short shorts and underwear. She posted under the Instagram handle @tublanquita1205. In Spanish, 'tu blanquita' translates to 'your light-skinned one.' Her profile includes a third video set to a song in Spanish. The lyrics state, 'May God forgive my sins.' 'May he forgive the woman I love-- the bad moments she's had to go through because of me.' She set the song to footage of her mouthing the lyrics and a montage of photos where she is kissing an unknown woman. The suspect in a jet-ski crash in Dallas begged forgiveness for her sins and the woman she loved in an Instagram reel Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez, 21, and Maikel Coello Perozo, 21, were taken into custody on Tuesday after allegedly fleeing the scene of a jet ski collision that killed 18-year-old Ava Moore Authorities tracked down Gonzalez and Perozo to a house in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood Tuesday. The duo were hiding in the home together and had a packed suitcase when police came knocking. Meanwhile, the victim's family planned a funeral for Moore, although the location was not released as her relatives asked for privacy. Emergency responders found Moore unconscious with severe head trauma as bystanders and first responders attempted life-saving measures Monday. Despite their efforts, the 18-year-old Air Force recruit was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Moore had been set to begin basic training in the fall and was remembered as a dedicated athlete and honors student.
