The passenger of the jet ski stayed on scene and spoke with police, authorities said.
Related:Woman suspected in Grapevine Lake fatal jet ski hit-and-run arrested, police said The driver of the jet ski was later identified as Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez, 21.
The man who fled the lake with Gonzalez Gonzalez was identified as Maikel Alexander Coello Perozo, 21.
According to his arrest affidavit, he admitted to police that he aided Gonzalez Gonzalez in evading police and the two were found with a packed suitcase when they were arrested.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security later said Wednesday afternoon that Gonzalez Gonzalez entered the country illegally on Sept. 28, 2023, while Coello Perozo entered illegally on January 22, 2023.
Authorities said during a news conference on Wednesday that a woman killed a kayaker at Grapevine Lake over Memorial Day weekend while she was driving a jet ski at a high speed and near the shore.
Police say that at approximately 5:25 p.m., first responders were sent to the lake. m. on Sunday to the vicinity of 325 Minnow Loop in Oak Grove Park. According to police, 18-year-old Ava Moore was kayaking on the lake when she was hit by a jet ski. She subsequently passed away from her wounds.
The Dallas Morning News was able to obtain an arrest-warrant affidavit from Moore’s kayaking companion, who reported to police that the jet ski made several fast passes near swimmers and the shore. Moore was struck from behind by the jet ski as she and Moore were leaving the area, the woman told police.
According to authorities, the jet ski driver then ran away and left the lake with a man, striking two cars in the parking lot. Police said the jet ski passenger remained on the scene and talked to them.
Shortly before six o’clock in the afternoon, Moore was declared dead. M. while being taken to the hospital, the affidavit stated.
The jet ski’s driver was later found to be 21-year-old Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez. She was taken into custody in Dallas on Tuesday after police posted a photo of her on social media and requested help from the public in locating her.
The 21-year-old Maikel Alexander Coello Perozo was the man who escaped the lake with Gonzalez Gonzalez. On Tuesday, he was also taken into custody in Dallas. He admitted to police that he helped Gonzalez Gonzalez elude capture, according to his arrest affidavit, and the two were apprehended with a packed suitcase.
During the course of the investigation, officials reported receiving over 900 tips from the public.
Authorities say Gonzalez Gonzalez is charged with felony manslaughter. Her arrest affidavit also mentions charges of reckless operation, excessive speed, and fleeing the scene of a fatal accident. Authorities stated that Coello Perozo is charged with two misdemeanors: obstructing apprehension and an accident involving vehicle damage.
The next step is to recreate the collision to get a “clear picture of what happened that day,” Texas Game Warden Captain Joseph Quintero stated during the news conference on Wednesday, adding that additional charges may be brought as the investigation progresses. “.”.
According to Quintero, “it is a tragic, tragic situation, and I hope that people will take this and use this opportunity to remember in addition to Miss Moore to be safe on public waters.”.
According to him, officials from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are looking into whether the jet ski’s owner and driver had the required permits.
Quintero added that it has not been established whether alcohol was a factor in the collision.
Both suspects are Venezuelan nationals who entered the country illegally, according to Joshua Johnson, acting field office director for ICE Dallas. To determine whether they should be deported, Johnson stated that they will appear before an immigration judge.
According to Johnson, both suspects entered the country from the south at some time in the past few years, were taken into custody, given a notice to appear, and then were let go.
The U. S. . Later, on Wednesday afternoon, the Department of Homeland Security declared that Gonzalez Gonzalez had entered the country unlawfully in September. 28, 2023, whereas on January 22, 2023, Coello Perozo entered unlawfully.
After their arrests, ICE filed immigration detainers with the Grapevine Police Department, and both are currently in removal proceedings, the department said.
Speaking on Wednesday, Grapevine Police spokeswoman Amanda McNew said both were being held at the Grapevine Detention Center. Although the amount of their bail was not immediately known, Gonzalez Gonzalez’s arrest affidavit suggested a bail of $500,000.
Johnson stated that he thinks bond is “inappropriate” in this case when questioned about the suspects’ bail.
Moore had recently finished her first year at the Air Force Preparatory School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was a 2024 graduate of Keller Timber Creek High School, according to a GoFundMe. She played basketball on the prep school team.
On behalf of the family of Ava Moore, Makayla Moore, a victim services advocate with the Grapevine Police, read a statement on Wednesday.
The statement read, “We are extremely grateful for the numerous messages and expressions of love and support, but especially for the numerous prayers we have received.”. “Everyone is going through a tough moment, but our lovely girl has a chance to keep making an impact on our community.
God remained good in the midst of this tragedy, and forgiveness is the only way to do that. “.”.
According to Makayla Moore, Ava Moore’s family has asked for privacy in order to grieve.
Since the arrests were announced in a news release by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday, the case has garnered statewide attention. Paxton also spoke about the case on Wednesday’s episode of The Will Cain Show on FOX News.
Governor of Texas. Greg Abbott also seemed to support the use of the death penalty in the case in a post he made on X on Tuesday.
“Hello, Texas. A news report about the incident prompted Abbott to post, “Here’s your death penalty.”.
At the press conference on Wednesday, officials did not state whether they plan to pursue the death penalty in this particular case. A question about whether the county plans to pursue the death penalty was sent to the media coordinator at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office, but the office did not immediately respond.
If found guilty of capital murder, criminals in Texas could receive the death penalty. A person who commits capital murder may be a peace officer, firefighter, kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, terroristic threat, obstruction, or retaliation, murder for hire, murder during an escape from a correctional facility, murder of a person under the age of 15, or murder while serving a life sentence or a 99-year sentence for certain violent crimes.
