An 11-year-old boy, identified as Callan, was shot to death by his father, Giovanni Pérez, 37in an apparent murder-suicide that occurred on April 13 at the Elko Regional Airport in Nevada.
According to a statement from the Elko Police Department, officers responded to a report of a shooting at 12:38 noon. When they arrived at the place, they found that The father had shot his son inside an airport bathroom and later took his own life near a ticket office..
The minor was rushed to the Northeast Nevada Regional Sanatorium, where he died from his injuries.
An interrupted trip that ended in tragedy
Father and son were traveling when the rental vehicle they were traveling in broke down outside of Winnemucca. Both were towed to Elko with the intention of picking up another car.
According to the police, they entered a bathroom at the airport on two occasions. It was during the second time that the attack occurred.
After the incident, a team specialized in explosives disposal inspected the vehicle, without finding any suspicious devices.
A child remembered for his talent and sensitivity
Callan’s death has generated special shock due to his recent history. The minor had won third place in an essay contest organized by the Merced County Office of Education, in California, in which he expressed his admiration for his father.
The contest sought to highlight the impact of parents on the lives of their children.
A GoFundMe campaign, created to cover funeral expenses, characterizes Callan as “incredibly smart, funny and kind,” with “a wisdom beyond his years.”
As of Wednesday morning, the initiative had raised about $12,000 of a goal of $13,000.
Family and friends have promoted various forms of tribute. A relative, identified as Jil Chiesa, shared that the boy’s fourth-grade teacher plans to plant a redwood tree in his honor inside the school.
Likewise, classmates decided to name a classroom pet—a guinea pig—after Callan.
“Technology much more than this tragedy,” says the fundraising campaign. “He deserved more life, more laughter and a future that was taken from him too soon,” as reported by the Merced Solar-Star.
Ongoing investigation and background
Authorities continue to investigate the details of the case, including the recent residence of the father and son. According to police, both had ties to Merced, California.
It was also confirmed that a missing persons report was filed last December in Clovis, after which they were located a month later in Ogden, Utah.
The authorities indicated that Giovanni Pérez suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder allegedly related to his service in the United States Armywhere he would have been deployed in Iraq.
Besides, He was in the middle of a dispute over the custody of the minor with the maternal grandparents.and, according to the police, was trying to isolate the child from other family members.
So far, a clear motive for the crime has not been established.
The minor’s paternal grandfather reported on social media that both will be buried in the Santa Nella military cemetery, California, with military honors.
For her part, Callan’s mother — who was separated from his father — stated that she maintained telephone contact with her son and was working to regain custody of him, she told KUTV.
Local authorities and the Merced school district described the event as an “unimaginable tragedy” and expressed their condolences to the family.
If you or someone close to you is facing an emotional crisis or suicidal thoughts in the United States, you can contact the Suicide and Disaster Prevention Helpline by dialing or texting 988, available 24 hours a day.
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