A Texas family is mourning an unimaginable loss after two brothers were fatally shot within hours of each other, allegedly by a neighbor authorities are calling a “ticking time bomb.” The tragedy unfolded in a San Antonio neighborhood last Tuesday, leaving a community in shock.
Dravyn Quiroz, 20, and his 11-year-old brother Maliki Perales were gunned down while backing their car into their own driveway. According to reports, the attack appeared to be random, with no prior disputes between the families.
The boys’ father, Andrew Perales, described the horrifying moment he heard gunfire and rushed outside. He told local station KSAT that he tripped over one of his sons in the chaos, only to see the alleged shooter reloading across the street.
Maliki, who was about to start middle school, died just 80 minutes after the shooting. His father carried him nearly a quarter-mile to a Dollar General store before he could be rushed to a hospital. Dravyn, who had recently recovered from serious health issues including pancreatitis, passed away about 12 hours later.
The suspect, 40-year-old Daniel Antonio Perez, reportedly tried to flee but was arrested within 10 minutes. He now faces capital murder charges, which could carry the death penalty under Texas law.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar described the suspect as a “ticking time bomb” who had a history of mental health episodes, according to his family. Salazar noted that Perez allegedly fired at two other siblings who were near the front door but thankfully missed.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at a vigil Saturday to honor the brothers, with their father remembering them as “fighters” who had good morals and values. Perez is scheduled to appear in court in November.
As this case moves forward, one question lingers: what could have been done to prevent such a senseless tragedy?
