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‘I will never forgive you!’: Mother of 6-year-old girl gunned down on Mother’s Day begs for end to gun violence

Saryah Perez was a 6-year-old girl who loved her family and wearing big bows in her hair, family says

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio mother called for an end to gun violence during a vigil honoring her 6-year-old daughter, who was gunned down at a car club event on Mother’s Day.

Kassandra Mendoza spoke about Saryah Perez, her little girl, saying she had a big heart.

“She loved everybody,” she said, weeping. “She loved everybody. She loved her brother. She loved being with her parents, her grandparents.”

Mendoza had her daughter with her as they attended the car club gathering, not expecting anything tragic to happen.

“They did this,” she said, crying. “They took her from me! Why? She wasn’t doing anything wrong! She was enjoying herself!”

San Antonio police say an altercation erupted that led to gunfire, hitting Saryah as the car she was in left the scene.

Police later arrested Andrew Ray Elizondo, 23, who is now facing a capital murder charge.

Mendoza says she knew Elizondo.

“I will never forgive Andrew! Never! He has kids of his own,” Mendoza said, crying. “How could he do this to my baby?”

As the investigation continues, Mendoza is begging for the violence to stop.

“Put guns down! Stop using them! They took my baby because of a gunshot,” she said. “Stop using guns! Put them down, please!”


About the Authors
Japhanie Gray headshot

Japhanie Gray is an anchor on Good Morning San Antonio and Good Morning San Antonio at 9 a.m. The award-winning journalist rejoined KSAT in August 2024 after previously working as a reporter on KSAT's Nightbeat from 2018 to 2021. She also highlights extraordinary stories in her series, What's Up South Texas.

Joe Arredondo headshot

Joe Arredondo is a photojournalist at KSAT 12.

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