This story is part of The Dallas Morning News’ homicide project focused on sharing the stories of people killed in Dallas in 2024.
For the first day in years, José Isidro Granados Cerritos went to play soccer.
Granados Cerritos, 33, loved his wife, his four children, soccer and his wife’s traditional red enchiladas.
He was killed in a shooting in southeast Dallas on May 19 after returning from a soccer game with his cousins.
“El Pollo,” as his family used to call him, was originally from La Cieneguita, a small village in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.
“He was a lovely father and husband,” said his wife, Eloisa Apoderado, 30. “Every night after work, he used to call us to check in with me and the kids.”
In February, Granados Cerritos left La Cieneguita, his son, his three daughters and his wife to move to Dallas.
He would work, live with his cousins, save as much as he could, and return to his family in two years, family members told of his plans to The Dallas Morning News.
He left his cousin’s house around 7 a.m. every morning to work as a framer on new homes in the Denton suburbs. He usually returned between 7 and 8 p.m. to shower, eat dinner and get ready for the next day, said his cousin, Mario Mendez, 21.
Mendez and his brothers played soccer with friends on Sundays. They always invited Granados Cerritos, but he usually declined and stayed home to watch Mexican soccer league games.
He was a CF Monterrey fan — the professional soccer team in Monterrey, Nuevo León.
The Sunday when he lost his life, he got up early, swept the back of the house and got ready to go play soccer with his cousins.
“He was ready very early and excited to return to the field after many years,” remembered Mendez. “After the game, he told us, ‘Next time I am going to fly,’ referring to the fact that he would lose weight and get better at the game.”
“But instead, he flew to the sky with God,” said his cousin while staring at photos of Granados Cerritos on his phone.
Granados Cerritos and three other cousins were in a white pickup a couple of blocks away from home about 8:30 p.m. May 19 when multiple gunshots were fired.
Officers responded to a shooting call in the 400 block of Alcorn Avenue, near Woodmont Drive, and found Granados Cerritos and a 12-year-old boy wounded.
Granados Cerritos was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The boy was taken to a hospital. The truck’s driver and another minor were not injured, according to police. The 12-year-old has been discharged from the hospital and is safe, his brother, Mendez, said.
Six people — the majority of them teenagers — were arrested on murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting and a seventh person faces a probation violation in connection with the shooting. Police suspect both parties were involved in a fender bender that led to the shooting.
Granados Cerritos died in front of the same porch where he and Mendez used to sit and talk about their lives in the U.S.
“It’s very painful to think and remember that he died right here in front of the house,” Mendez said. “He used to tell me he was ready to go home with his family.”
Mendez said his cousin wanted to finish paying off some debts and return to Mexico. He wasn’t enjoying his life in the U.S. He thought the American dream was dead and not worth it.
Granados Cerritos’ wife echoed Mendez. In their last few phone calls, her husband told her he would be returning home soon. He was saving money to build a second floor on their house to have more space for their children.
Her husband used to send her money weekly to support his family.
The couple, who met 13 years ago, would have celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary in November.
His family is asking for justice and protection. His cousins are afraid that even if the police arrest the suspects, something else will happen to them.
“We want answers,” Apoderado said. “We want to know why those people ended his life.”
His family has been in contact with the Mexican Consulate in Dallas to help them repatriate Granados Cerrito’s body. His wife is planning a Mass and funeral for his children and loved ones to say their final goodbyes.
“He used to joke and tell me that he wanted to return only for my enchiladas,” Apoderado said. “He loved everything I used to cook for him.”
