(GRAPEVINE, Texas) — The Texas Game Wardens, along with the Grapevine Police Department (GPD), said they have made arrests in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that happened over Memorial Day weekend.
On Sunday, May 25, Texas Game Wardens responded to a water fatality involving a personal watercraft and a kayaker at Lake Grapevine, northwest of Dallas. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) said two women in a personal watercraft allegedly hit and killed 18-year-old Ava Moore, a cadet candidate who had graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School on May 19 and had been accepted to join the Academy as a member of the Class of 2029.
Courtesy: USAFA
According to TPW, the personal watercraft was being driven at a high speed near the shoreline of Oak Grove Park when it collided with a kayak occupied by Moore. The driver, identified as 21-year-old Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez, and the passenger initially left the scene, then later returned.
The passenger remained on the scene and spoke with police, while Gonzalez left in a vehicle with 21-year-old Maikel Coello Perozo. While the two were leaving the area, police said they hit two other vehicles. GPD is working on the case of the automobile crashes, while Texas Game Wardens investigated the boating incident.
On Tuesday, May 27, Gonzalez and Perozo were arrested in Dallas. TPW said Gonzalez is facing charges of Manslaughter, and Perozo is facing charges of Collision Involving Damage to a Vehicle and Hindering Apprehension.
“We would like to take an opportunity to thank not only our local, state, and federal law enforcement officers but also the public for their support and vigilance in reporting information to the Grapevine Police Department’s tip line,” said Texas Game Warden Captain Joseph Quintero. “We received more than 900 tips from the public, which helped us provide a quick resolution to the family.”
“These arrests will not undo the heartbreak of losing Ava Moore, but we will continue to provide support to her family throughout the criminal justice process,” said Amanda McNew, Media Manager for the Grapevine Police Department.
TPW said Enforcement Removal Operations Dallas filed immigration detainers with GPD following the arrests of Gonzalez and Coello, and both are in removal proceedings pursuant to the policies of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
