"Insecurity is all day, every day. Today it was Dante, tomorrow we don't know." In the midst of the pain, Juana García, the mother of Dante Godoy García (21), the young man shot dead during an assault to steal his cell phone, asked for justice in front of the 4th police station of Moreno. That request will be made in person this Thursday to Buenos Aires Security Minister Sergio Berni.
Dante was returning, along with a friend, from an electrician course at a Technical School in Cuartel V, Moreno's party. At the moment, the investigation is focused on identifying the murderer, who remains at large.
The incident occurred around 21 p.m. on Monday in Portugal between Socrates and September 2. At that time, the two young men were assaulted by a thief who was riding a bicycle and with a firearm demanded that they hand over their cell phones.
Neighbors demand justice in front of the 4th police station of Moreno. Photo Rafael Mario Quinteros
Faced with this situation, the victim tried to escape but the assailant shot him again and fell wounded by a bullet a few meters away. Only one bullet hit the young man's body: it entered through the chest and ended up lodged in the abdominal area.
After the attack, the thief escaped on the bicycle without consummating the robbery and the companion ran three blocks to the house of a cousin of the victim to notify him of what happened.
Dante Godoy, the 21-year-old killed during a robbery in Moreno
Family members rushed him to a health centre in the area, where he died from his injuries. "The ambulance never came. I opened his jacket in the street and it was full of blood," said Juana Garcia, the victim's mother. This Tuesday he was veiled in the church San Roque de Moreno with a "crowd".
Who was Dante
His family describes Dante as a supportive, feisty and optimistic boy. He always had a smile despite the difficulties. At the age of 12 his life changed completely when he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, which he survived after the operation and much rehabilitation.
Protest in front of the police station of Cuartel V for the crime of Dante Godoy García in Moreno. Photo Rafael Mario Quinteros
"He was in a coma for 22 days, then he did treatment for just over a year. He came out a baby. He did not walk, we fed him, he did not speak, and little by little, with psychologists, kinesiology, radiotherapy and chemotherapy he fought it, "say in dialogue with Clarín the parents of the victim, Juana García and Edgar Godoy.
But the young man got ahead and was able to finish primary and secondary school. Then he took two years to enter the faculty and could not. "That's why I had been taking electricity courses for three years and always worked in changas as a laborer and a year ago in the company where I work," says his father.
At 4 o'clock, Edgar would pick up Dante at home, since he had become independent, and take him to school. This fateful Monday he had done the same routine.
His mother remembers him as a boy who "always gave him forward, wanted to do many things and be someone in life." Although he was young, he is described as very responsible, who did not drink alcohol or go dancing.
Juana García and Edgar Godoy, Dante's parents. Photo Rafael Mario Quinteros
"We are devastated as a family. He suffered a lot as a child, he did not deserve to die like this at the hands of a criminal. He fought a lot against an illness and came out of it. He deserved to live," the young man's aunt, Mariana Godoy, told Clarín.
Dante was very loved by the neighbors of the area and had many friends that he met while doing solidarity work. "I helped in the chapel, I was in the scout group, and I helped the ward a lot in the pandemic by serving food. I also went to Enhebrando Sueños to learn bakery and guitar courses. He wanted to get ahead, he didn't want to get depressed because of the tumor he had," says his mother.
The Bonaerense mounted an operation to guard the police station 4 of Moreno. Dante's killer is still at large. Photo Rafael Mario Quinteros
It was so much the affection of his neighbors that Dante's stepfather, Cristian, said that "the whole neighborhood united until they reached the cemetery for 10 kilometers."
In the social networks of the Technical School No. 3 "Evita" of José C. Paz where he had attended, they dismissed him: "With deep sorrow we say goodbye to Dante Godoy, a graduate of this institution, and we accompany his family at this time."
In turn, his companions of the Explorers of Caacupe-Barracks V sent their affection to the family. "Always in our hearts as the great person you were. We will miss you and remember you in your struggle and constant joy. May our mother Mary receive you in her embrace and you may rest in peace. We accompany the family in this difficult time. A lot of strength. And in his name we demand justice," they wrote on their Facebook account.
The research
"The autopsy was done yesterday (Tuesday) and a 22-caliber lead was obtained. In case of seizing a weapon in the future, comparative expertise will be carried out to collapze," say sources in charge of the investigation in dialogue with Clarín. And they add: "There are no pending expertise. Now all the research is field."
"Dante's eyewitness and friend testified. He could not give specific pressures such as the description of the accused or what type of bicycle he was traveling. He was paralyzed by fear. He said he didn't see much," say sources in the case.
The claim of the parents of Dante Godoy García in front of the Moreno police station. Photo Rafael Mario Quinteros
In addition to that testimony, key to the investigation are the security camera footage that is being analyzed by the police. "Of the cameras that are in the vicinity much could not be seen, less to find the face of the suspect," they say.
"It was the third time he had been robbed with a gun. The first time they gave him a butt and gave him six stitches. A month ago he was robbed at 5.30 when he was going to work," said the parents and grandparents of the young man.
The incident is being investigated by prosecutor Luisa Pontecorvo, in charge of the Functional Unit of Instruction (UFI) No. 3 of the Moreno-General Rodríguez Judicial Department.
Protest in front of the 4th police station
To the cry of "We want justice, we want justice", friends, family and neighbors of Cuartel V protested this Wednesday afternoon in front of the 4th police station of Moreno. They asked for greater speed in the investigation and more security in the area.
As part of the demonstration, neighbors blocked Provincial Route 24 and burned tires. "I pray that what happened to my son does not happen to anyone else, that there is no more Dante. We need security, if not, we are nothing, we live inside. We can't continue living like this," Edgar told Clarín.
Also, the stepfather of the victim acknowledged to this media: "We do not have security, we can not go out to the market at night even if it is a block away to buy salt for dinner, we prefer not to risk it. Without security, the country will not grow."
Along the same lines, the young man's mother explained that "there are many boys who go to school and steal their jackets and backpacks." This generates fear and they no longer want to walk. "We have to take the kids to school even if it's a few blocks away," he told Clarín.
One of his cousins, Mariela, shared through her Facebook account videos of her arrival at the mobilization where people carried white balloons in memory of the young man. "Justice for my cousin. He died at the hands of the criminals of this country," he wrote.
This Thursday, Dante's parents and grandmother will meet with Buenos Aires Security Minister Sergio Berni. The neighbors made them a point of issues to claim: "justice, security, cameras, lights, gendarmes, patrols, buses and neighborhood alarm."
MG
See also