Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened the death penalty for two illegal immigrants suspected in the fatal jet ski hit-and-run of 18-year-old Air Force recruit, Ava Moore.
“Welcome to Texas. Here’s your death penalty,” the Republican wrote in a post on X, with a news video about the deadly incident and the arrest of the suspects.
Moore, who had only just joined the US Air Force, died after she was struck by a jet ski while kayaking on Grapevine Lake on Sunday evening.
Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez and Maikel Perozo were both arrested on Tuesday after a standoff with police at their Dallas-area home, according to Fox 4.
Gonzalez was driving the jet ski with another woman when they allegedly crashed into Moore before Gonzalez fled the scene with Perozo in a blue Toyota Corolla, hitting two other vehicles as they bolted.
The other woman on the jet ski remained behind and was interviewed by cops.
The jet ski was seen making several “reckless” passes along the shoreline before it crashed into Moore, witnesses told police, according to an arrest warrant affidavit seen by Fox 4 News.
Gonzalez, from Venezuela, is charged with second-degree felony manslaughter, and her bond is set at $500,000 according to the affidavit.
Perozo, who was driving the car, has been charged with an accident involving injury, with additional charges expected Wednesday.
Gonzalez is not currently charged with a capital felony.
Both were in the country illegally, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement Tuesday.
“Ava Moore’s senseless death was caused by an illegal alien who should have never been in our country in the first place. My heart breaks for Ava’s family and friends, and my prayers are with them as they face this tragedy,” Paxton said.
Tributes have poured in for Moore, who had graduated from the US Air Force Academy Preparatory School less than a week before the crash.
She was due to start her basic training and was proud to pursue her dream of serving in the military, her friends and family said.
On the day of the fatal crash, she was visiting her parents in North Texas for Memorial Day weekend, Fox 4 reported.
“We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend – Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she met,” U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind said in a statement.
“Her constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and her team,” he added.
Moore was an ambitious teen who hoped to rise through the ranks of the military, her basketball coach, Ke’sha Blanton, said in a statement.
“She talked all year about becoming a four-star general one day because she loved it. She made those around her better,” Blanton said.
