SAN ANTONIO — A grieving family is relieved after police arrested two people in connection to a deadly shooting.
It happened just before 12:30 a.m. on April 27. Police say the victim, Azariah Feliciano, was leaving a Fiesta event downtown when he was killed.
“No mother should have to bury a child,” said April. “He was a loving son, a loving brother. It’s been a long road. During the investigation, I kept everything off social media to let the police do their investigation. But now that we have confirmation on the arrests, I feel like it’s time to show my son’s smile.”
According to court documents, the 22-year-old got into the bed of his friend’s pickup truck with several other people just moments before the shooting.
“It was his first time at Fiesta as an adult,” said April. “The two girls they met that night had actually gotten into a fight [with the suspected shooters]. My son was leaving with his friends and said, ‘We will help y’all, we will take y’all,’ and gave them a ride. They were going to Tavis Park actually. I am assuming they got to a red light and ran into the suspects.”
While they were traveling eastbound on Travis Street near Main Avenue, the occupants in the truck passed the rival group. The women captured video of the three men on the sidewalk. Police say two of the men pulled out handguns and started firing at the truck. Feliciano and the two women were shot.
Feliciano died in the hospital, while both women recovered from life-threatening injuries.
“I just honestly want to know why,” said April. “They didn’t know my son.”
Thanks to images from the cellphone video, Crime Stoppers received several tips about suspected shooters. In October, officers arrested 19-year-old Muslim Abdalridha. Police also identified the second suspected shooter, but his name hasn't been released yet.
“We just got confirmation that both were arrested and charged with my son’s murder,” April said.
April is hopeful her son’s killers will be held accountable, but it won’t bring him back. Feliciano won’t turn 23 next month, and he will never meet his niece; at least, not in this lifetime.
“There’s a lot of gun violence and a lot of kids [committing gun violence],” said April. “It’s kids shooting and not even caring who is around.”
Feliciano’s family is finding some comfort knowing the 22-year-old saved at least eight lives through organ donation.