Nayeli Bolaños Medina was a 23-year-old Hispanic mother living in Irving, Texas. Her life, and that of her own mother, 56-year-old Juana Medina Rodriguez, was tragically cut short in an act of violence that her young son was forced to witness. The family hoped to see the person responsible brought to justice, stating, "They are leaving a 5-year-old an orphan."
On the evening of January 19, 2024, at approximately 8:50 p.m., Irving police officers responded to a shooting at the Park
Springs Apartments on West Irving Boulevard. Inside an apartment, they found Juana Medina Rodriguez deceased. Her daughter, Nayeli, was rushed to a local hospital but died from her injuries. Both women had been shot. Nayeli's 5-year-old son was in the apartment during the attack and later told investigators that the suspect killed his mother and grandmother in front of him while they were fighting.
Investigators quickly identified Nayeli's 33-year-old boyfriend, Hector Vicente Paguada, also known as Hector Matute, as the primary suspect. According to police, the couple had been involved in several disputes over the title to a car that Nayeli had purchased from him. Security footage showed Paguada running from the apartment after the shooting and fleeing in a Nissan Pathfinder. Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on a charge of capital murder.
The investigation led to the arrests of several individuals accused of helping Paguada evade capture. Two women were taken into custody for allegedly helping him get rid of his vehicle. Despite these arrests, Paguada himself remained on the run.
In the days following the murders, a memorial of candles and flowers grew on the front steps of the family's apartment. The Consulate of El Salvador in Dallas provided assistance to the family to help them arrange for the mother and daughter to be buried in their home country.
As of August 2024, Hector Vicente Paguada is still at large and is considered dangerous. The manhunt has intensified, and the FBI is now offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads directly to his arrest.
