Two Illegal Immigrants Arrested in Texas Over Air Force Cadet's Death

Two Venezuelan nationals, Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez and Maikel Coello Perozo, both in the U.S. illegally, were arrested in connection with the Memorial Day weekend hit-and-run death of 18-year-old Ava Moore, an Air Force cadet candidate, at Lake Grapevine, Texas. Gonzalez is accused of driving the jet ski that struck Moore, while Coello allegedly helped her flee the scene and was charged with collision and hindering apprehension. Both suspects were found with packed suitcases during their arrest after a standoff involving local police, Homeland Security, and ICE, which confirmed they had crossed the southern border in 2023 or 2024 and had been released on their own recognizance despite ICE detainers. The Department of Homeland Security criticized previous administration policies for allowing illegal immigrants into the interior, linking those policies to preventable tragedies like Moore's death. Moore, remembered as a standout basketball player and aspiring four-star general, had recently graduated from the Air Force Academy Preparatory School and was soon to begin basic training. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton condemned the incident, emphasizing that the suspects should not have been in the country, while ICE stated they will be processed for removal after criminal proceedings.