A Houston mother is mourning the tragic loss of her 12-year-old son, Carlos Fernandez, who was murdered while courageously attempting to protect his family from an alleged assault by her abusive ex-boyfriend, during a home invasion early Monday morning. Ashley Rostro, the grieving mother, described the chilling events to ABC13, revealing how her son sprang into action, only to be fatally shot four times by the intruder, identified as Terry Rivera.
According to Rostro, the fateful night unfolded with Rivera opening the bedroom window, leading to a violent exchange. "Just the sound of the window going up, I automatically knew who it was," she told ABC13. Rivera's hostility did not subside until her son tried to intervene. "He's my protector. He ran in there trying to save me," she said of Carlos's last moments.
The aftermath of the shooting has left the family reeling, as they now grapple with grief and a harrowing sense of injustice. Echoing her mother's sentiments, Rostro, in a heart-wrenching interview with FOX 26, said, "Heartbroken just still feels so unreal. I honestly don’t think I’ve been hit. It hasn’t even hit me yet," as she recounted her attempts to save her son's life.
Rostro's description of her son paints the picture of a loving child who held his family together and stood bravely in the face of danger. "He was just the best child. A well-mannered, such a sweetheart at such a young age - a true gentleman at 12," Rostro recollected to FOX 26. Despite an outpouring of community support, Rostro affirmed that these gestures pale in comparison to the loss of her son, proclaiming that such help means nothing with Carlos gone.
The accused, Rivera, remains at large, and Rostro has beseeched anyone shielding him to turn him over to the authorities. The criminal history of Rivera, detailed by ABC13 – including prior charges for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and shooting a gun out of a moving vehicle – highlights systemic failings that now culminate in a family's unbearable loss and a community's outrage.
Public visitation for Carlos Fernandez has been scheduled for Sunday, from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Vazquez Funeral Home. The funeral is set for the following Monday at the San Jacinto Cemetery, from 10 a.m. to noon.
