PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: An 18-year-old U.S. Air Force recruit, Ava Moore, was killed by a jet ski on Grapevine Lake, Texas, over Memorial Day weekend.
👥 Who’s Involved: Venezuelan nationals Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 22, and Maikel Coello Perozo, 21, both in the U.S. illegally, are facing charges related to the killing.
📍 Where & When: Grapevine Lake, Texas; May 25, 2023.
💬 Key Quote: “This criminal alien and her boyfriend will account for the tragic accident that ended the life of a young woman who exhibited enormous potential,” said Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Dallas Acting Field Office Director Josh Johnson.
⚠️ Impact: The case highlights ongoing concerns about illegal immigration and public safety. Notably, Gonzalez appears to have attempted to flee the scene after the fatal collision.
IN FULL:
Two Venezuelan nationals, both in the U.S. illegally, are now facing criminal charges following the death of 18-year-old Ava Moore, a U.S. Air Force recruit, in a jet ski collision on Grapevine Lake, Texas, over Memorial Day weekend.
Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 22, was arrested on May 27 and charged with second-degree felony manslaughter. Authorities allege that Gonzalez was operating the jet ski that struck Moore as she kayaked near Oak Grove Park on May 25. Witnesses reported that the jet ski was being driven recklessly along the shoreline before the crash.
After the collision, Gonzalez allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Maikel Coello Perozo, who is now charged with hindering apprehension. The pair were apprehended following a standoff at a residence in the Dallas area.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Gonzalez entered the U.S. illegally on September 28, 2022, but was released the same day with a Notice to Appear. Coello reportedly entered the country illegally in January 2023 but was also released pending an immigration hearing.
“This criminal alien and her boyfriend will account for the tragic accident that ended the life of a young woman who exhibited enormous potential,” stated Josh Johnson, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Dallas.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R), who has taken state-level measures to crack down on illegal immigration and those in the country unlawfully who commit violent crimes, wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) following the fatal crash: “Welcome to Texas. Here’s your death penalty.”
The U.S. Air Force Academy remembered Moore as a driven individual with leadership potential. “Her constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, Superintendent of the Academy.
Moore had been visiting her family in North Texas for the holiday weekend when she was killed.