On April 13, 2026, 11-year-old Callan Perez’s life was tragically cut short in a murder-suicide at the Elko Regional Airport in Nevada. The young boy was fatally shot by his 37-year-old father, Giovanni Perez, who then took his own life. The devastating event unfolded in a public restroom at the airport, sending shockwaves through the community and beyond.
The father and son had been traveling in a rental car when it became disabled, leading them to be towed to the airport to secure
another vehicle. It was within the airport that the tragic events transpired. Authorities reported that Giovanni Perez shot his son multiple times before exiting the restroom and turning the gun on himself near the ticket counter. Callan was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Investigations into the motive revealed a troubled family history. Giovanni Perez was a military veteran who reportedly suffered from PTSD. There had been an ongoing and contentious custody dispute over Callan involving his maternal grandparents. Family members had expressed concerns about the boy's safety in his father's care and had been actively seeking to gain custody.
The community was left to grapple with the senseless loss of a child described by family as "incredibly smart, funny, and kind—wise beyond his years." In a sad twist, it was revealed that just the year before, Callan had won third place in a "Father of the Year" essay contest in Merced County, California, where he had previously attended school. A GoFundMe was established to support Callan's family with funeral expenses and to advocate for changes in the systems they feel failed to protect him. The Elko Police Department investigated the incident, but no other suspects were identified, and the case was classified as a murder-suicide.
