Man pleads guilty to killing mother while she held her child

In May 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Minneapolis, where a 21-year-old man from Savage fatally shot a mother named Lilian Perez while she was in the backseat of a parked car, holding her 2-year-old child. The shooting happened when Perez's husband left the vehicle, allowing the attacker to approach and fire multiple shots into the car. Not only did Perez lose her life as a result of the violence, but her child also sustained injuries but ultimately survived the ordeal. The attack left two other children present in the vehicle unharmed but traumatized. The case drew significant attention, highlighting the issues of gun violence and public safety in urban areas. Following the shooting, the perpetrator was charged with one count of second-degree intentional murder and one count of first-degree assault. He pleaded guilty to these charges in early April 2025, receiving a sentence of 347 months for the murder and an additional 103 months for the assault, which are to be served consecutively, bringing the total to approximately 37.5 years in prison. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty commented on the case, acknowledging the profound impact on Perez's family and the community. She noted that while no sentence can bring back the lost life, holding the perpetrator accountable serves to protect the community from future violence. Meanwhile, a separate incident is reported in Pleasanton, where police arrested a 31-year-old man for allegedly killing his 71-year-old mother. The man walked into the police station and confessed to the crime following a dispute at home. Officers found the mother with multiple stab wounds, and several kitchen knives were discovered nearby, suggesting a violent confrontation had taken place. This incident underscores a broader social issue regarding family violence and the need for preventive measures to address such conflicts before they escalate to fatal outcomes. Both cases reflect alarming patterns of violence within families, and the emotional toll they take on victims, families, and communities must be recognized and addressed.