Police say the two men were murdered a day apart about 800 feet away from each other.
SAN ANTONIO — Advocates for the homeless community gathered Sunday evening on the city’s west side to honor two homeless men killed a day apart and within blocks of each other.
The group held a vigil at the spot where one of the men was found, placing two chairs labeled with the victims’ names.
“I was angry. I was very angry,” said homeless advocate Molly Wright, who helped organize the vigil. “We all come together to have a vigil and pay respect so the community can pay respect to Mr. Fields and Mr. Baca.”
Police say both men suffered extensive head injuries.
The first killing occurred the morning of November 16, when 29-year-old Darreyl Fields was found dead on West Gramercy near Fredericksburg Road.
The next morning, a 62-year-old man identified by advocates and neighbors as Perry “Paco” Baca was found murdered roughly 800 feet away on Fredericksburg Road.
Police arrested 18-year-old Noah West in connection with Fields’ killing.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, West was captured on surveillance video approaching Fields with a taped piece of wood before striking him and fleeing. Officers found Fields dead when they arrived.
Police said the two murders appear to be connected. They are not seeking additional suspects in Baca’s death.
Wright, who described herself as chronically homeless, said the killings highlight the vulnerability of people living on the streets and the lack of resources available to them.
“These two gentlemen did not have to die if they could have received the help that they needed,” she said. Wright called for more access to water, food and city or county-run shelters.
She also criticized city sweeps of homeless camps, which she said leave people displaced and afraid.
“Constant fear… If you’re living like that day-to-day, when you know you’re going to get your head bashed in like Mr. Baca and Mr. Fields, you have to sleep all day and then walk all night wherever you can find a secret place,” she said.
West has been charged only in Fields’ killing and is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Molly Wright says if you know someone homeless and in need of assistance you can contact her at mootualaid@gmail.com or by text-only at 980-666-8825.
You can also visit the website here.