BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – A tragic event unfolded in Bexar County when a man was arrested after fatally shooting his neighbors, two brothers, in a driveway. The incident occurred on a Tuesday evening and has left the community in shock.
The victims were identified as Maliki Perales, an 11-year-old boy, and his older brother, Drayven Quiroz, who was 20 years old. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed their identities on Wednesday.
According to Sheriff Javier Salazar, the tragic shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. in the 9800 block of Acadian Drive. The brothers were backing their family car out of the driveway when the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Daniel Antonio Perez, crossed the street and opened fire on them.
Both Maliki and Drayven were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, Maliki succumbed to his injuries that night, while Drayven was pronounced dead the following morning.
Medical examiners reported that Maliki died from gunshot wounds to the head and torso, officially ruling his death as homicide. The cause of Drayven’s death is still under investigation.
During a news conference, Sheriff Salazar expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating, “Unbeknownst to them, they had what I would categorize as a ticking time bomb right across the street from them.” He emphasized that the family had no warning about the danger posed by Perez.
After the shooting, Perez attempted to target two other siblings standing near the family home but fortunately missed them. The sheriff described how lucky they were to avoid becoming victims themselves.
Perez faces multiple charges, including two counts of capital murder and several counts of aggravated assault. He is currently held on a bond of $2.3 million, with a court appearance scheduled for November 3.
Following the shooting, Perez fled the scene. Ring doorbell footage captured him frantically knocking on a neighbor’s door, appearing distressed and suggesting he acted in self-defense. However, investigators believe the evidence tells a different story.
Perez called 911 while on the run, admitting to shooting his neighbors but not disclosing his location. Authorities located him about a quarter mile from the crime scene, hiding in a stranger’s backyard. His firearm was found in a nearby drainage culvert.
Salazar mentioned that Perez had previously experienced mental health crises, including depression and hallucinations. However, he made it clear that mental health issues do not absolve someone of criminal responsibility.
“While clearly there’s some sort of a mental health crisis going on, he still had the presence of mind and the culpable mental state to go conceal the weapon somewhere and then go conceal himself somewhere else,” Salazar stated.
Perez reportedly does not have a prior criminal record. He is currently being held at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, where he awaits his next court date.
Neighbors have described the victims’ family as warm and welcoming, with Sheriff Salazar noting, “These folks fed the neighborhood.” The tragic loss of Maliki and Drayven has left a profound impact on their community, highlighting the need for increased awareness and action regarding gun violence and mental health issues.
