Daniel Antonio Perez, 40, allegedly opened fire on two brothers as they backed a car out of their driveway in San Antonio, Texas, killing 20-year-old Dravyn Quiroz and 11-year-old Maliki Perales, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
Background
The shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. at a residence in the San Antonio area when the two brothers were leaving their family's home. Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters that Perez, who lived across the street from the victims, left his residence and began firing without warning. Investigators later learned that Perez also fired at the victims' two teenage siblings during the incident, though he missed them. Both Dravyn and Maliki were rushed to a nearby hospital where Maliki died the same night. Dravyn succumbed to his injuries the following morning.
The Investigation
Perez was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder and four counts of aggravated assault. He is being held on a $2.3 million bond. Prior to the shooting, surveillance footage captured two of Perez's family members physically attempting to restrain him while he was armed with a gun. According to Salazar, Perez's family told investigators he had a history of mental health issues, including signs of depression and possibly experiencing hallucinations, though he had never been formally diagnosed. No one had reported his behavior to authorities before the incident.
Doorbell camera footage obtained by local ABC affiliate KSAT allegedly showed Perez holding a gun as he approached another neighbor's house shortly before the shooting. In audio captured by the doorbell camera, Perez can be heard telling the neighbor, "I'm begging you," while claiming he feared for his life. Sheriff Salazar stated that investigators found no evidence to support Perez's claim that he was in any danger.
After allegedly shooting the brothers, Perez fled the scene while calling 911 to report that he had shot his neighbors. Investigators tracked Perez's location using his cellphone and located him hiding in someone's backyard. The alleged murder weapon was recovered from a drainage culvert near the scene.
Key Takeaways
- Daniel Antonio Perez, 40, has been charged with two counts of capital murder for allegedly killing Dravyn Quiroz, 20, and Maliki Perales, 11
- The brothers were backing out of their driveway when Perez allegedly opened fire from across the street around 7:30 p.m
- Perez also allegedly fired at two teenage siblings but missed them, adding four counts of aggravated assault to his charges
- Family members tried to restrain Perez while he was armed before the shooting; he had a reported history of mental health issues
- After the shooting, Perez fled and called 911. Police tracked him via cellphone and found him hiding in a neighbor's backyard
What's Next
Perez is scheduled to appear in Bexar County court on Nov. 3 for his next hearing. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. Community members have organized a GoFundMe campaign to support the Perales family.