After suffering the loss of their 9-year old daughter, the family of Arlene Alvarez is making a plea for safety.
“There are things that need to change right now because they haven’t changed. By us being here together, these things will change concerning gun violence and children,” she said.Gwen Álvarez, left, is accompanied by her extended family as she leads a march for her 9-year-old daughter, Arlene Álvarez, who was mistakenly shot and killed by a robbery victim on Valentine's night, near the intersection where the shooting happened in southeast Houston, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022.
In the wake of the killing, Álvarez has now found other families, like Grant’s, who have experienced a similar pain. Richard Molina, nephew of Joe Campos-Torres who was murdered by HPD in 1977, said the death of Arlene compounds on the many recent acts of violence affecting children in Houston, citing as examples the Feb. 3 fatal shooting of 11-year-old Darius “DJ” Dugas in northeast Harris County and the Jan. 11 fatal shooting of 16-year-old Diamond Alvarez.
Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, and Houston City Council member Robert Gallegos of District 1 were among the political leaders to attend the march. Both pointed at the recent passing of Texas House Bill 1927 as a catalyst for the many recent acts of gun violence around the city and state. The law allows most adults to carry weapons without a license or fee.Melissa Lucio could be the first Latina executed in Texas. Family members say her crime was a tragic accident.