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A gathering took place outside a closed Chick-fil-A in Las Colinas on Saturday to honor Patricia Portillo and Brayan Godoy, two employees tragically murdered there on Wednesday. Friends and family gathered to place flowers at the restaurant’s entrance sign and joined in prayer.
Oved Argueta, the suspected shooter, is now in custody.
The atmosphere was filled with grief, marked by embraces, tears, and heartfelt prayers for Portillo and Godoy.
“It’s really hard to grasp what happened because one day he was with us, and the next day he’s gone,” said Jackeline Ortiz.
Godoy had been living with Ortiz and her family for about a year.
“He came from Guatemala a few years ago, and fate brought him to us. We embraced him as part of our family, just as he embraced us through video calls, messages, and everything,” she said.
Godoy, a father of four, left his children and wife in Guatemala to seek a better life in the United States. The Ortiz family noted that he worked two jobs and sent most of his earnings back home to support his family.
“He always tried to be cheerful, despite his difficult circumstances. He strived to be a better person and provide a better life for his family,” Ortiz said.
Her daughter, Monserrat, remembered Godoy as playful and caring. On the day he died, he accompanied her and her newborn baby to their appointments while her husband was at work.
“He helped me load everything into the car and made sure we were comfortable,” Monserrat recalled.
After dropping them off at home, he headed to work.
“I told him, ‘Have a good day.’ Sadly, all this happened,” she said.
Saturday marked the first time the Ortiz family visited the place where Godoy lost his life.
“It doesn’t feel real. It feels like a dream. More like a nightmare,” Monserrat expressed.
She shared that her husband couldn’t attend due to work but sent a message through her.
“He said, ‘Could you go for me and just say that I’m sorry this happened to him?’” she recounted tearfully.
The Ortiz family seeks justice for Godoy and Portillo, who leaves behind a pregnant daughter and a grandson.
“It’s difficult to imagine how things will move forward from here,” Monserrat said.
Loved ones of both victims have launched fundraisers to assist with funeral and other expenses.