Tragedy struck Grapevine Lake when an 18-year-old Air Force recruit lost her life in a jet ski hit-and-run, prompting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a stark warning, according to the New York Post.
On Sunday evening, Ava Moore, a promising young woman who had just joined the U.S. Air Force, was killed in a reckless collision on the water. The suspects, two unauthorized migrants, now face severe consequences. Texas doesn’t play games when lives are lost.
Moore, visiting her parents for Memorial Day weekend, was enjoying the lake when a jet ski driven by Daikerlyn Gonzalez allegedly slammed into her.
Gonzalez, with another woman aboard, fled the scene with Maikel Perozo in a blue Toyota Corolla, leaving chaos in their wake. Actions, it seems, have consequences.
Witnesses described the jet ski making “reckless” passes along the shoreline before the fatal crash, per an arrest warrant affidavit.
The other woman on the jet ski stayed behind and spoke with police. Negligence on the water isn’t just careless—it’s deadly.
Gonzalez and Perozo were apprehended Tuesday after a tense standoff at their Dallas-area home. Gonzalez faces a second-degree felony manslaughter charge, with a $500,000 bond. Perozo, who drove the getaway car, is charged with causing injury in an accident, with more charges looming.
“Welcome to Texas. Here’s your death penalty,” Abbott declared on X, signaling zero tolerance for such reckless disregard. His words resonate with Texans tired of lawlessness. Justice, in the Lone Star State, isn’t a suggestion.
Ava Moore wasn’t just any teenager—she was a star basketball player with dreams of becoming a four-star general.
Having graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School days before, her future shone bright. Her loss isn’t just tragic; it’s a theft of potential.
“She talked all year about becoming a four-star general one day because she loved it,” said Ke’sha Blanton, Moore’s basketball coach. Blanton praised Moore’s ability to uplift those around her. Yet progressive border policies, some argue, enabled this heartbreak.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton didn’t mince words: “Ava Moore’s senseless death was caused by an illegal alien who should have never been in our country.” Paxton’s statement reflects a growing frustration with unchecked migration. Sympathy for Moore’s family doesn’t erase the policy failures.
Moore’s leadership left a mark, as noted by U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind. “We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend,” he said, highlighting her passion for service. Her peers won’t forget her infectious drive.
Bauernfeind added, “Her constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School.” Moore’s ambition to excel in leadership roles inspired her team. Her absence leaves a void no policy debate can fill.
The suspects’ immigration status has fueled outrage, with both Gonzalez and Perozo confirmed as unauthorized migrants. Paxton’s office underscored this, tying the tragedy to broader border security concerns. Texans deserve safety, not excuses.
Gonzalez’s manslaughter charge, while serious, isn’t currently a capital felony, despite Abbott’s death penalty rhetoric. Perozo’s charges may escalate, with authorities signaling more to come. The legal system, for now, holds the reins.
Police had released an image of the hit-and-run suspect before the arrests, a move that likely aided their capture. The community’s vigilance played its part. In Texas, justice doesn’t sleep.
