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On Saturday, a group gathered outside a closed Chick-fil-A in Las Colinas to honor two employees, Patricia Portillo and Brayan Godoy, who were tragically murdered there on Wednesday.
Friends and family placed flowers at the restaurant’s entrance sign and held hands in prayer, mourning the loss of Portillo and Godoy. The suspected shooter, Oved Argueta, is currently in custody.
Jackeline Ortiz, who had been hosting Godoy in her home for about a year, expressed her disbelief. “It’s really hard to fathom what happened because one day he was with us, and the next day he’s not,” she said. Godoy, who came from Guatemala a few years ago, had become a part of Ortiz’s family through shared experiences and communication.
Godoy was a father of four who left his family in Guatemala to provide a better life for them. He worked two jobs, sending most of his earnings back home. “He always tried to be a lively person,” Ortiz said. “Despite his hard circumstances, he tried to prevail and be a better person for his family.”
Ortiz’s daughter, Monserrat, described Godoy as playful and caring. On the day he died, he had helped her with her newborn baby before heading to work. “He helped me bring all my stuff in the car, he helped me load her in,” Monserrat recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh, I hope you have a good day.’ And, sadly, all this happened.”
Saturday was the first time the Ortiz family visited the scene of Godoy’s death. “It doesn’t feel real. It feels like a dream. More like a nightmare,” Monserrat said. Her husband, unable to attend due to work, asked her to convey his sorrow. “He told me, ‘Can you go in my place and just say that I’m sorry that this happened to him?’” she said through tears.
The Ortiz family is seeking justice for Godoy and for Portillo, who leaves behind a pregnant daughter and grandson. “It’s hard to imagine how things are going to go from here,” Monserrat said.
Fundraisers have been set up to help cover funeral and other expenses for both victims. You can find the GoFundMe page for Brayan Godoy [here](link).