Family draws on faith for support after loved one was killed in a murder-suicide in Galena Park

PASADENA, Texas. The family of one of three teenagers killed in a tragic murder-suicide in Galena Park over the weekend said they rely on their faith to survive.

The church community provides support to the family of 14-year-old Laisha Perez. The pastor of the church said that a small church has a big heart. They help not only financially, but also emotionally and spiritually.

Pastor Rigoberto Linares has been helping in any way he can since the night of the tragedy. He said that nothing could have prepared him for what happened.

“What can you say to the family? You know, there are no human words that could console in such a situation. So all I could do was just stand there and pray for them,” he said.

Everyone in the church is still in shock, but they are doing their best to be close to the family. Laisha’s family now lives in Crosby, but her family attended Holiness of God Church in Pasadena.

“You know, it will be hard not to see her with her family anymore,” Linares said. “A young girl with a future. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Laisha was staying at her friend’s house last weekend when she was shot. Two other girls, 19-year-old Sayuri Gil and 13-year-old Melanie Torres, were also shot dead. According to family members, they were sisters and Gil was six months pregnant. According to investigators, their mother’s 38-year-old boyfriend shot the girls, raped another of their sisters, and then shot himself. A 12-year-old girl survived the attack and was able to save her one-year-old niece and make it out of the house alive.

Laisha’s loved ones organized a fundraiser and created a GoFundMe account to help pay for the funeral expenses. Another GoFundMe was created for Gill and Torres.

Linares said his church and community have provided financial support, but it will take more for the family to get through.

“It’s not about getting over it, it’s about learning to get through that pain,” he said.

That’s where he says the church comes in.

“You know, we make phone calls, we pay visits and we do everything we can as a church to show them the love of God,” Linares said.

He wants the world to remember Laisha the way the church knew her.

“The church remembers Laisha, the girl with the smile,” Linares said.

Laisha’s funeral is scheduled for next week.

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