300-Plus Attend Vigil for Toddler Shot at Her Home

By Mitch Mitchell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

May 19–ARLINGTON — More than 300 people attended a prayer service Thursday for a 2-year-old girl who was severely wounded in a drive-by shooting while sleeping in her mother’s bed.

Daisy Prado, who was shot in the head, remained in a coma Thursday at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. Three shots were fired early May 5 through the window of a small frame house in the 2000 block of East Mitchell Street in Arlington, police said.

The family is struggling with whether to remove Daisy from life support, said Obdulia Prado, her grandmother.

“I pray to the Lord to either take my baby or come down and save her, because I don’t believe I can take anymore,” Prado said.

“Only Jesus can come and do the miracle. I’ve never gone through anything like this before, and it’s so painful. My son and daughter are taking it so hard.”

Daisy’s 13-month-old brother, Jesus Prado, was also wounded. He was released May 6 from Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, where he had been treated for a gunshot in his shoulder. The shooting was apparently the result of a long-simmering feud between the children’s father and three people who have been arrested in the shootings, police said.

Ely Adrianna Almendariz, 20, and Henry Noel Gabrillo and Pedro Ariel Lucio, both 24, were each charged with attempted murder. Bail for each was set at $250,000. Police said the charges could change if Daisy dies.

Prado still hopes for a miracle.

The Spanish-language prayer service was held at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church near New York Avenue and Pioneer Parkway. It lasted two hours, and members of the congregation sang, prayed and held their children close.

“If Jesus wants my baby, if it’s her time, you can take her,” Prado said. “Just don’t let her suffer.”

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Mitch Mitchell, (817) 548-5411 mitchmitchell@star-telegram.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

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