Mother Demands Justice After Son Killed Outside East Side Club
Finn's Take· TL;DR- 26-year-old Jon Kross Perez-Levaeh shot and killed outside after-hours club; five suspects still sought by police.
- Mother demands venue demolition and systemic change to prevent future violence in high-crime Rigsby Avenue corridor.
- Crime Stoppers offering $5,000 reward; family holding fundraiser to cover expenses while pursuing justice.
A Mother's Devastating Loss
Jon Kross Perez-Levaeh, 26, died in the morning of Feb. 8. "I hung up with him at 6:47 a.m.," Sanchez said. "By 6:50 a.m., the neighbors in the back said that they heard the gunshots." The brief phone conversation between Heavyn Sanchez and her only child would be their last. She said her son was leaving and getting ready to meet her at church.
Perez-Levaeh's mother, Heavyn Sanchez, said the shooting happened outside an after-hours club on Rigsby Avenue. Crime Stoppers said five suspects rushed and assaulted him. Then, he was shot and killed. What should have been a routine morning quickly turned into every parent's worst nightmare.
He had two young children and a family who deeply loved him. Sanchez said he was "very humble, very loving, very generous and very giving." The young father leaves behind not only his grieving mother but also children who will grow up without their dad.
Community Rallies for Answers
One family has built a makeshift memorial on Rigsby Avenue: a cross secured with crime scene tape from a fatal shooting just two weeks ago. The simple tribute stands as a stark reminder of violence that continues to plague San Antonio's streets. Standing next to a framed photo of her only child, Heavyn Sanchez said her faith is the only thing carrying her as she searches for answers in the killing of her son.
The family plans to hold a plate sale fundraiser Saturday, February 21. It will be at Covington Park located at 2600 Rigsby from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The family will be selling plates for $12. The fundraiser reflects both the family's financial struggles and the community's willingness to support them during this difficult time.
San Antonio police are still searching for the suspects, and Crime Stoppers is now offering an award for anyone with information that can lead to an arrest. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest. Despite the monetary incentive, the case remains unsolved two weeks after the shooting.
Calls for Systemic Change
"I want it demolished," Sanchez said, referencing the building on Rigsby Avenue where her son was shot. "I want justice, yes, but I want justice the right way." Her demand goes beyond finding the perpetrators—she wants the venue that she believes contributed to her son's death permanently closed.
The Rigsby Avenue corridor has seen multiple violent incidents, raising questions about safety measures and business oversight in the area. After-hours clubs often operate in regulatory gray areas, sometimes creating environments where violence can escalate quickly without adequate security or police presence.
While Sanchez prepares to bury her son, she's also fighting for changes that could prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies. Her dual pursuit of justice and prevention reflects a mother's determination to ensure her son's death wasn't meaningless. The community's response will likely determine whether this becomes another unsolved case or a catalyst for meaningful change on San Antonio's East Side.