A Fort Worth mother is desperately urging anyone with information to come forward nearly three months after her 18-year-old son was shot and killed at a backyard party in Dallas’s Pleasant Grove neighborhood.
Isaiah Hernandez was killed in the early morning hours of June 14 at a gathering along Masters Drive. Dallas police have since arrested 19-year-old Charles Cooper on a murder charge in connection with the shooting.
Despite the arrest, Hernandez’s mother Araceli Rodriguez believes more individuals were involved and is calling on witnesses to speak up. “I just want people to come forward. I’m begging them to please come forward if they know anything if they’ve seen anything if they have pictures video anything” Rodriguez said.
Court documents reveal that a witness saw Cooper fire an automatic weapon that struck Hernandez. The affidavit also states that Hernandez was beaten by multiple people before being shot and that investigators recovered shell casings from three separate firearms at the scene.
Rodriguez said she has received messages and videos through social media from people who witnessed the incident. She also said that a watch and rosary taken from her son that night were later returned to her.
Based on what witnesses told her Rodriguez believes the attack may have been a robbery. “I was told from messages that people sent that they believe it was a robbery because they did say they saw people taking things off my son after he was already on the ground” she said. Dallas police have not confirmed those details.
Rodriguez expressed concern that those potentially still involved could go on to harm others. “To me they’re going to continue doing what they’re doing and they’re going to continue to hurt other people” she said.
Dallas police have stated there are currently no outstanding suspects in the case. However Rodriguez is pushing for a more complete picture of what happened that night.
The grieving mother said the loss of her son has been devastating to her daily life. “I cry every day. I can’t sleep” she said. “I just wish that I was still able to hold him.”
Anyone with information photos or video related to the killing of Isaiah Hernandez is urged to contact the Dallas Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS.