In the quiet streets of San Antonio’s West Side, a vibrant young life was cut short in a shocking act of violence that has left a community reeling. On April 16, 2025, 14-year-old Simon Julian Cuevas III, a student at the San Antonio Independent School District’s Brewer Academy, was fatally shot just blocks from his school. The tragedy unfolded at the intersection of South Elmendorf and Merida Streets, where Simon was ambushed by a group of teenagers in a planned assault that ended in a single, devastating gunshot. Now, nearly four months later, authorities have made a significant breakthrough in the case with the arrest of 18-year-old Fernando Flores, charged with capital murder in connection to Simon’s death.

The incident occurred in the early afternoon, as Simon walked home from Brewer Academy, a referral campus dedicated to supporting students with emotional and behavioral challenges. According to police reports, surveillance footage captured a group of five teenagers following Simon as he left school, their intentions ominously clear. Witnesses described a brutal scene: the group attacked Simon, tackling him to the ground in a coordinated assault. Amid the chaos, one of the assailants pulled out a handgun and fired, striking Simon in the abdomen. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, Simon succumbed to his injuries at 2:53 p.m., leaving behind a grieving family and a shattered community.

The investigation that followed was meticulous but initially frustrating, as the suspects remained elusive. The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and SAISD Police worked tirelessly, analyzing surveillance footage from Brewer Academy and a nearby school bus camera that captured critical evidence, including the license plate of a vehicle linked to the crime. The footage revealed a chilling detail: the mother of one of the suspects was seen driving the group, later admitting to dropping them off at a house after the murder. Her identification of one suspect in a photo lineup, combined with a school staff member’s recognition of another from the video, began to unravel the case.

As weeks turned into months, the community’s anguish grew. A makeshift memorial at the corner of South Elmendorf and Merida Streets bloomed with candles, flowers, and balloons, a testament to Simon’s impact on those around him. Neighbors like Diana Garay tended to the site daily, ensuring the tributes remained intact, while others, like Regina Guevara, a community health worker who had lost her own children to violence, voiced frustration over the slow progress. “He’s a baby, you know? He had a future,” Guevara said, her words echoing the collective grief of a neighborhood desperate for answers.

The turning point came when Crime Stoppers released images and video of two persons of interest in May, offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The public responded, flooding authorities with tips that pointed to Fernando Flores as the shooter. Two individuals came forward, revealing that Flores had confessed to them about pulling the trigger. Police also recovered a brown hoodie matching the one Flores wore on that fateful day, further solidifying the case against him. On August 15, 2025, Flores was arrested, marking a significant step toward justice for Simon.

Yet, the story is far from over. While Flores faces charges of capital murder of a person over 10 but under 15 years of age, one of the suspects involved in the assault remains unidentified. The SAPD continues to investigate, piecing together the motives and circumstances that led to such a senseless act. Brewer Academy, where both Simon and Flores were students, has grappled with the aftermath, offering counselors and therapy dogs to support a traumatized student body. The school’s principal, Gary Bollock, and SAISD Superintendent Jaime Aquino expressed profound sorrow, emphasizing their commitment to student safety while acknowledging the pain of losing a child to such violence.

Simon’s family, devastated by their loss, has requested privacy as they navigate their grief. Their call for justice, echoed by community vigils and protests, has resonated deeply. A walkout organized by Second Chance Ministries on May 1 united Simon’s loved ones, classmates, and neighbors in a powerful stand for peace and accountability. “We walk because Simon can’t,” the organizers declared, their words a poignant reminder of the void left by his absence.

As San Antonio mourns, the arrest of Fernando Flores offers a glimmer of hope that those responsible for Simon’s death will face the consequences of their actions. The community remains vigilant, holding onto memories of a respectful, helpful young boy whose life was stolen too soon. For now, the investigation presses on, driven by a collective resolve to ensure that Simon Julian Cuevas III’s name is remembered not just for the tragedy that befell him, but for the justice that will be served in his honor.