This story is part of The Dallas Morning News Homicide Project was focused on sharing the stories of all the people murdered in Dallas in 2024..
José Fernando Chacon Navarrete loved his mother's pupusas (a traditional Salvadoran dish), but most of all he loved his family and his mother. He got his mother's middle name tattooed on his chest.
Relatives called him “Nand,” and he was the jolly man in the family. His family said he was always telling jokes and giving everyone nicknames. Dallas Morning News.
His family set up an altar in the living room, across from the gray sofa where Nando used to lie and talk and joke with his mother. There was a framed photo of him with his name, date of birth, and date of death. is wearing a black T-shirt and white jeans and is smiling. His two helium balloons with Mickey Mouse's face, red and white roses, and several colorful butterfly stickers surround the frame. His ashes are in a brown box under the shelf.
His mother, Lilian Navarrete, 46, said fairy lights were hanging from the ceiling and some of the walls to keep his room cheerful.
Nando Chacon Navarrete, 25, was found shot in the 6900 block of Bexar Street near Donald Street around 9:30 a.m. Jan. 1. He is one of at least 50 people killed in the city this year.
New Year's Eve was an anxious night and morning for Lillian, as she didn't hear from her son, who left home before dinner. He told her he was going to come back to meet some of her friends and continue the celebration.
“He gave me a big hug. I never thought it was goodbye,” Lillian said Saturday. “I never thought my son would never come back.”
Nando's dog, Coco, a 2-year-old white, medium-sized Maltipoo with black spots, started barking and crying at dawn that day. Lillian said it was as if the dog knew its owner was gone.
Lillian and her three children were born and raised in El Salvador. Nando was the youngest of three children and the only male. In 2011 she moved to Maryland to be with her relatives. Her goal was to save her money and send it to her children. She then moved to Dallas, and she brought her son here through her parole program in 2014.
She recalls that at the time, street gangs in El Salvador were actively recruiting teenage boys, and she feared that would be her son's fate.
“As a mother, I always want to protect my children,” Lillian said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Lillian thought Dallas would be a safer place for Nando's.
Nando's sister, Marcela Chacon Navarrete, said the two had always played together since they were young and would regularly play pranks on their mother. Nando led the match, she said.
When Lillian moved to the United States, Marcela, now 29, became like a mother to Nando and took care of him.
Marcela was in El Salvador when Nando's ex-girlfriend called and told her police had found Nando's body.
That same day, a few hours later, she received an email from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services informing her that her work visa had been approved after two years of application and she could travel to Texas next month.
She had been dreaming of that moment for a long time. So was Nando's. But now he's gone.
“I used to joke with him: 'If you get your visa, I'll take over your room,'” she said. “He used to tell me things like, ‘I’m going to make his room stink,’ and we used to have a lot of laughs on WhatsApp video calls.”
Marcela was unable to say goodbye to her brother. She arrived a few weeks after his funeral.
Nando worked intermittently for a cleaning company. He spent most of his time lifting weights and helping out with errands around his house.
There are days when Lillian comes home from work and waits outside in the parking lot, expecting Nando to come help her with his work bag, say hello and say, “Qué quiere madre?” Anne cafecito, en pancito? “What do you think?” “Mom, what do you want? Coffee and bread? How was your day?”
His family said police continue to investigate the incident. No arrests have been made and police have not released a suspect.
On January 24th, he would have celebrated his 26th birthday. That day, his mother threw a party in his honor at her home. She invited the pastor and members of the church she attends. She made Nando's favorite dishes, pupusas and chicken soup, and decorated flowers around the house.
“When the pastor arrived, he asked, 'Why are there so many flowers and balloons?' I told him it's because my handsome son is now with God.” said Lillian. “He's safe now and looking after me and my family.”
