Bogota, Colombia – A year after the tragic shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets claimed the life of Elio David Cumana Rivas from Venezuela, his father, Santos Emilio Cumana, continues to grapple with the immense loss. In an emotional interview conducted in Spanish with The Dallas Morning News from Colombia, where he was seeking a humanitarian visa to attend a memorial event in the United States, Cumana expressed his ongoing struggle with the death of his son. Despite having buried him, Cumana believes that Elio is still alive in his heart, refusing to accept his passing.
The Allen mall shooting, which occurred on May 6, 2023, resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including Elio, who was only 32 years old. Having recently arrived in the United States in search of asylum and a better life, Elio’s life was tragically cut short as he was shot seven times, as confirmed by the Collin County medical examiner’s autopsy report. The sudden and violent end to Elio’s life left his family devastated and in deep mourning.
Following complications with paperwork and a lack of resources for repatriation, Elio’s ashes remained in North Texas for over two months. It wasn’t until August 6, 2023, that his remains were finally returned to Venezuela, allowing his family to lay him to rest a few days later. Since then, Santos Cumana’s life has been marked by profound grief and overwhelming stress, as he struggles to come to terms with the tragic loss of his son.
Living under a constant state of distress, Cumana describes the toll that his son’s death has taken on him, both physically and emotionally. The pain is exacerbated by the senseless violence that robbed Elio of his life and the unanswered questions surrounding the shooter’s motives. The autopsy report reveals the heartbreaking details of Elio’s fatal injuries, highlighting the senseless brutality of the attack.
Despite his efforts to cope with the profound grief, Cumana finds solace in the memories of his son, unable to shake the feeling that Elio is still somehow present in his life. Having already lost two other sons to violence in Venezuela, Cumana is no stranger to profound loss and the unrelenting pain that comes with it. The anguish of losing a child in such a violent and senseless manner has left him with scars that may never fully heal.
As Cumana grapples with the immense tragedy that has befallen his family, he is left to navigate a world forever altered by violence and loss. The memories of Elio, his laughter, and his presence linger, serving as a painful reminder of a life taken too soon and a future forever altered. In the wake of unimaginable grief, Santos Emilio Cumana continues to seek peace and closure, holding onto the memory of his beloved son amidst the turmoil of a shattered life.