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Jose Fernando Chacon Navarrete cherished his mother’s cooking, but above all, he held a deep affection for his family and especially his mother. He had his mother’s middle name inked on his chest.
Known affectionately as “Nando” within his family, he was the lively spirit, always ready with a joke and endearing nicknames for everyone, as shared by family members with The Dallas Morning News.
In the family’s living room, where Nando used to relax and engage in banter with his mother on the gray couches, an altar has been arranged. It features a framed photograph of Nando, displaying his name, birth and death dates, depicted in a black t-shirt and white jeans with a gentle smile. Surrounding the frame are two helium balloons bearing Mickey Mouse’s visage, red and white roses, and an array of colorful butterfly stickers. His ashes repose in a brown box beneath the shelf.
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To preserve his cheerful essence in the room, his mother, Lilian Navarrete, 46, adorned the space with fairy lights dangling from the ceiling and walls.
Nando Chacon Navarrete, aged 25, was discovered with gunshot wounds on Jan. 1 around 9:30 a.m. in the vicinity of the 6900 block of Bexar Street, near Donald Street. He is among the reported 50 individuals who have lost their lives in the city this year.
For Lilian, what should have been a festive New Year’s Eve spiraled into a night and morning of anguish when she failed to hear from her son after he departed before dinner. He had mentioned meeting friends and returning to continue the celebrations.
Lilian Navarrete, with tears in her eyes, reminisces about her son Jose Fernando Chacon Navarrete at her residence in Garland on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Jose Fernando was tragically shot at Rochester Park on New Year’s Day. (Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer)
“He embraced me tightly. I never imagined it would be our last hug,” Lilian expressed on Saturday. “I never envisioned that my son would never return to me.”
Lilian recounted how Nando’s dog, Coco—a 2-year-old medium-sized Maltipoo with white fur and black patches—began incessantly barking and whimpering at dawn that day, almost as if sensing his owner’s absence.
Both Lilian and her three children hail from El Salvador. Nando, the youngest and only son among the siblings, accompanied Lilian to the United States in 2014 through a parole program after she initially migrated to Maryland in 2011 to secure a better future for her family. She had feared the aggressive recruitment tactics of street gangs in El Salvador, wanting to shield her son from such perils.
“As a mother, your instinct is to shield your children,” Lilian remarked, tears tracing down her cheeks.
Believing Dallas to be a safer haven for Nando, Lilian made the decision to relocate there.
Marcela Chacon Navarrete, Nando’s sister, reminisced about their shared childhood in El Salvador, where they bonded over mischievous pranks played on their mother. Marcela, now 29, assumed a maternal role towards Nando after their relocation to the U.S.
While Marcela was in El Salvador, she received a call from one of Nando’s ex-girlfriends informing her of his demise. Coincidentally, she received an email from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services the same day, granting approval for her work visa after a two-year wait, allowing her to travel to Texas the following month.
This moment had been a long-cherished dream for both Marcela and Nando. However, with Nando’s sudden departure, the joy was eclipsed by grief.
Marcela Chacon Navarrete shares a vintage photograph of herself and her brother Jose Fernando Chacon Navarrete at her residence in Garland on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Jose Fernando was tragically shot at Rochester Park on New Year’s Day. (Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer)
“I used to tease him, saying, ‘Once I have my visa, I’ll take over your room,’” Marcela recollected. “He’d joke about how he’d make the room smell, and we’d share a laugh during our WhatsApp video calls.”
Marcela couldn’t bid a formal farewell to her brother, arriving a few weeks post his funeral.
Nando intermittently worked for a cleaning company, dedicating most of his time to household chores and weightlifting.
Lilian often finds herself waiting outside upon returning from work, yearning for Nando’s presence to assist with her belongings, greet her, and ask, “¿Qué quiere madre? Un cafecito, un pancito? ¿Cómo estuvo su día?” (“What do you want, mom? A coffee or a piece of bread? How was your day?”)
Authorities have yet to provide any leads regarding the case, with no arrests made or suspects identified.
On what would have been his 26th birthday on Jan. 24, Lilian hosted a commemorative gathering at their home, inviting the pastor and fellow churchgoers. She prepared Nando’s favorite dishes—pupusas and chicken soup—and adorned the house with flowers.
“When the pastor questioned the abundance of flowers and balloons, I explained that it was in honor of my handsome son who is now in God’s embrace,” Lilian shared. “He is at peace, watching over me and our family.”