Aureanna Hernandez, a 21-year-old Hispanic mother, was a beloved member of her Dallas, Texas, community. Her family said she was loved by many and left behind a two-year-old son when her life was cut short by sudden violence.
Just before 1 a.m. on April 11, 2023, Aureanna and a man were standing outside in the 2600 block of Ingersoll Street in West Dallas. A gray or silver sedan approached, and multiple individuals exited the vehicle carrying automatic rifles.
They opened fire, unleashing a barrage of gunshots down the street. The attack, which lasted less than 30 seconds, was captured on a Ring surveillance camera, and the footage was later shared widely online. Aureanna was struck multiple times. Both she and the male victim were rushed to a local hospital, where the man was listed in stable condition. Aureanna Hernandez died from her injuries.
The Dallas Police Department’s investigation soon pointed to a motive. According to an arrest affidavit, the suspects had an ongoing dispute with the man who was with Aureanna at the time of the shooting and had previously made threats to harm him and his family. On April 19, 2023, police made their first arrest, taking 17-year-old Johnny Sincere Garcia IV into custody and charging him with murder.
One week later, on April 26, 2023, authorities arrested a second suspect, 21-year-old Dax Rakestraw, who was also charged with murder. The investigation continued, and the case saw another major development nearly two years later. On January 28, 2025, U.S. Marshals arrested a third suspect, 29-year-old Perla Cantu. She was booked into the Dallas County Jail and charged with murder in connection with Aureanna’s death. As of January 2025, the investigation is ongoing. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an indictment in the case.
