Valdemar Esquivel Jr., a 17-year-old Latino male, tragically lost his life on June 18, 2019, in Dallas, Texas. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Cedar Lake Drive in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas. Valdemar was found shot dead inside a Ford F-150 in front of several homes. At the time of the shooting, Valdemar was out with friends and lived in the area. His brother confirmed his identity to the authorities.
The shooting marked the 98th murder in Dallas that year, highlighting a spike in violent crime in the city.
The investigation into Valdemar Esquivel Jr.'s death revealed that he was sitting in his truck with his best friend at his side when he was shot. Despite the presence of several friends who gathered at the scene to watch investigators process the crime scene, the police did not release any information about a suspect description or whether they had identified any possible suspects. The Dallas Police Department faced backlash online for posting about the city's 12 consecutive days without a murder around the same time as the shooting.
In the days following the incident, Latino civil rights leaders from the League of United Latin American Citizens voiced their concerns about the violence in their community and the leadership of Dallas Police Chief U. Reneé Hall. They criticized Chief Hall for not connecting with the Latino community and addressing their concerns. The Dallas Police Department issued a statement addressing the concerns of the Latino community, emphasizing their efforts to connect and engage in collaborative partnerships with every community they serve.
As of now, there have been no arrests or suspects identified in connection with the murder of Valdemar Esquivel Jr. The investigation remains ongoing, and the Dallas Police Department continues to work on solving the case. The tragic death of Valdemar Esquivel Jr. has left a lasting impact on his family, friends, and the community, who continue to seek justice for the young Latino male.
