Giovanna Barrera: Texas rollerskater shot in the face after she refused to surrender her phone in 'random act'
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: Two suspects have been charged in the slaying of a 24-year-old rollerskater in Northeast Bexar County on Wednesday, December 9, afternoon, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. The 28-year-old Daniel Calvillo and 20-year-old Keyana Jones were arrested by BCSO and taken into custody after they fatally shot Giovanna Barrera in broad daylight, according to a KSAT report.
Barrera was reportedly shot in the 7600 block of Tarrasa on December 9 afternoon just minutes after she finished roller-skating, according to the sheriff's office. Salazar said she was shot one time in the head at point-blank range execution-style.
The sheriff said Barrera was just about to get into her vehicle when Calvillo approached her out of the blue and demanded her cellphone. However, Barrera refused and threw her phone under the seat of the car, where it was later recovered. Calvillo then proceeded to shoot her in the head and fled the scene with Jones. The victim succumbed to her injuries.
The BCSO had previously stated they were looking for a man and woman who were in connection with the shooting and were said to be driving a black Chevy HHR, which resembles a PT Cruiser. Salazar said Calvillo and Jones were later apprehended during a routine traffic stop in possession of the murder weapon. He added that there didn't appear to be any previous connection between the suspects and the victim, according to KSAT.
That said, Calvillo is now charged with capital murder and unlawful carrying of a weapon. And while Jones is currently being charged as a felon in possession of a firearm, she may be charged with capital murder as well.
Salazar had previously said the shooting seemed personal and not a random act of violence. “We have no reason to believe that this woman was doing anything other than exercising,” the sheriff said at the time. “It looks to be that somebody, for whatever reason, singled her out. We don’t have anything where we would say it is (a) drug deal gone bad, or she was a gang member. We just don’t see any of that at this point.”
Family members described Barrera as loving and caring, and noted how she was preparing for cosmetology school, ABC13 reported. “It’s just wrong to do such a thing whoever you are you should have never done that to us. You just broke us, you broke all of us,” family members told the outlet.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the family with burial and funeral-related expenses. "Giovanna was taken from us on Thursday afternoon she was found shot in her driveway by a random act," her aunt Jackie Chavez wrote on the page.
"She was a loving caring person that without even trying she would make you laugh for no reason. She only had kindness in her heart and will live on forever in the hearts of her Sisters Destiny and Sell her grandmother Modesty and her Aunt Jackie. We love you Gigi you are in our hearts."
If you or anyone you know has information about the case, you are urged to contact authorities through Crime Stoppers at (210) 224-STOP (7868). Tipsters can remain anonymous.