Family mourns ‘Baby Hector’: Aspiring barber killed at graduation party

SAN ANTONIO — A 17-year-old aspiring barber was fatally shot over the weekend at a graduation party on the city’s south side, leaving his family and community in mourning and searching for answers.

Hector Javier Vargas, affectionately known as “Baby Hector,” was found in the street with multiple gunshot wounds early Sunday in the 400 block of Tidewind Street, close to Loop 410 and Pleasanton Road.

“She just said, ‘Tía, somebody shot him. He’s not here. He’s dead,'” recalled his aunt, Nadia Vargas.

The youngest boy of six siblings, Hector was known for his constant check-ins with family and his ever-present smile.

“It was always ‘I love you’ after every message or after every text. Like, ‘How are you doing, tía? I love you,'” Nadia said.

A rising senior at McCollum High School, Hector was dedicated to his cosmetology studies and dreamed of opening his own barbershop.

“He says in the message, ‘I can’t tía, right now I’m in cosmo. I already know how to do nails, hair, I know how to braid,'” Nadia shared.

Instead of celebrating his future, Hector’s family is now planning his funeral.

“It was never in my mind how much those things cost. Not until yesterday that my sister told me that the funeral home alone is $12,000,” Nadia said.

No arrests have been made in the case. The family is pleading with anyone who attended the party Saturday night into Sunday morning to come forward with information.

“These kids need to think about what they do before they do it because they’re not only hurting themselves and each other, they hurt families, too,” Nadia emphasized.

To assist with funeral expenses, the family is hosting a plate sale at Jakarandas Bar, located at 1619 W. Malone Ave., starting at 11 a.m. Sunday. The event will continue until all plates are sold, and will include raffles for purses, gift cards, and other items.

The Vargas family is also accepting donations via their GoFundMe campaign.