SAN ANTONIO – A New Year’s Eve tragedy in 2023 continues to haunt a San Antonio mother who is still grieving the loss of her teenage son.
On Tuesday, 18-year-old John Doerr accepted a plea deal for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jaden Perez.
Doerr pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Perez’s mother, Yadiris Colón, held back tears in court as she expressed her frustration, saying the sentence was not enough and offered her no closure.
“I feel like no amount of time is going to bring my son back, my one and only son,” Colón said. “My forever heartbeat. He was my everything, so every day I have to wake up and remember he’s not here, and that’s heart-wrenching.”
Doerr was arrested and charged in 2024 after shooting Perez in the face on Dec. 31, 2023.
According to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, Doerr and a group of teens lured Perez under the pretense of selling him drugs but instead planned to rob him.
During the meetup, Doerr fired the fatal shot, and Perez was left on the street, where he died.
Colón described the boys as friends, saying Doerr had stayed with their family for several weeks and was treated like a member of the household.
“We gave him clothes, food. He hung out with him earlier that day,” she said.
While Doerr received a 30-year sentence as part of his plea deal, Colón said she feels the punishment does not fit the crime.
As part of the plea deal, three additional charges pending against Doerr in unrelated cases were dismissed.
Doerr will receive credit for time served and will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence.