OBITUARY
 Vigil held for 14-year-old overdose victim of Carrollton fentanyl drug ring
FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS - A vigil was held Thursday afternoon for one of the teenage overdose victims of a Carrollton drug ring.
14-year-old Jose Alberto Perez was a student at long middle school in
the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. His family came forward to talk
about his overdose.
Meanwhile, three people arrested for their roles in the deadly drug ring were hit with new charges.
This is the first time we heard from the familyof one of the three
students who died from using fentanyl. The family is hoping those who
sold these pills will be found guilty of murder.
Jose's family and others met outside of the Farmers Branch Justice
Center Thursday. Their hope is to send a message to drug dealers
selling pills laced with fentanyl.
Candlelight vigil to be held for teenage victims of Carrollton fentanyl drug ring
"A verya important and clear message to drug dealers who are killing
our children, that we are declaring war against them." said organizer
Carlos Quintanilla.
Federal and loca officials say three adults sold fentanyl pills to
students at two CFBISD middle schools and RL Turner High School.
The DEA says nine students overdosed from September 2022 to January of
this year. One of them overdosed twice. Three students died.
]Jose went to Long Middle School, and his family says he overdosed on Jan. 26. (2025)
His brother, David Castro, said he started to notice his brother changing in the two months before his death.
Castro's cousin, Emily Perez translated for us.
"He said he started noticing changes when he got aggressive around him
because he was really playful at all times. Once he started
consuming it, he started being aggressive towards him, " she said.
On Wednesday, suspects Jason Villanueva, Luis Navarrete and Magaly
Canoa were indicted by a federal grand jury. They are charged with
conspiracy to distribute drugs. Villanueva is also charged with
violated federal gun laws.
22-year-old arrested, considered "main source" of fentanyl that killed 3 Carrollton Teens, feds say.
Prosecutors say Villanueva was the main supplier of the drugs and
worked through a juvenile dealer to supply fentanyl-laced pills to
Navarrete and Cano.
The indictment points out how the suspects allegedly used social media to "discuss, negotiate and facilitate" drug transactions.
Last week, invfestigators showed us a picture they say is from Villanueva's social media showing the blue fentanyl-laced pills.
Jose's mother, Lilia Astudillo, spoke to the crowd in Spanish. She says her son got worse after Christmas break.
"We should not be afraid," Quintanilla said. "We should not be intimidated by drug dealers who are killing our children."
"I think people should start paying more attention to the kids," Perez said.
"Ask why you are doing it, and get help. Because he didn't get help."
The organizers wanted to make it clear they want the focus to be on
prosecuting the drug dealers, but they also called for a Dallas
County-wide fentanyl task force to assist schools and parents with the
problem.
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