In a quiet neighborhood on the far West Side of San Antonio, a normal Tuesday evening in August was shattered by an act of sudden and senseless violence that claimed the lives of two brothers. On August 5, 2026, 11-year-old Maliki Perales and his 20-year-old brother, Dravyn Quiroz, were inside a vehicle, backing out of their family's driveway on Acadian Drive. It was around 7:30 p.m. when their neighbor from across the street, 40-year-old Daniel Antonio Perez, emerged from his home and, without any apparent provocation, opened fire on the brothers. The attack was shockingly swift, leaving both Maliki and Dravyn with multiple gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.
The aftermath of the shooting was a scene of chaos and horror. Family members of Perez had reportedly tried to restrain him before he started shooting. He also fired at two of the victims' other siblings, a 14-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, who were near the front door of their home, but thankfully, they were not hit. After the assault, Perez fled through the neighborhood, still armed with a handgun. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and the two wounded brothers were transported to a hospital in critical condition. Tragically, Maliki succumbed to his injuries later that evening. His older brother, Dravyn, fought for his life but also passed away the following morning. The Bexar County Medical Examiner later confirmed that Maliki's death was a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso.
In the wake of the devastating event, law enforcement began a search for the suspect. Perez himself called 911 and admitted to shooting his neighbors. Deputies were able to track his location using his cellphone data and found him hiding in a backyard about a quarter-mile from his home. The handgun allegedly used in the shooting was later recovered from a drainage culvert. Daniel Antonio Perez was taken into custody and booked into the Bexar County jail. He has been charged with two counts of capital murder. Investigators believe the shooting was unprovoked and that Perez may have been experiencing a mental health crisis, with a history of depression and "seeing things that were not there." Despite this, authorities noted that he had the presence of mind to conceal both the weapon and himself after the attack. The Perales family, who had lived in their home for over two years, said they had never had any previous interactions with Perez. The community mourned the loss of the two brothers, remembering them at a balloon release where their father spoke of their willingness to always help others. The case stands as a tragic example of inexplicable violence that cut short two young lives and left a family and community heartbroken.
