PLEASANT GROVE, Texas — Strength isn’t easy.
“My son needs me to be strong. My unborn child needs me to be strong,” said Elizabel Cardenas, the wife of 24-year-old Juvenal Antero.
“It’s hard for me not to have him here because he guided me through everything,” Cardenas said. “He had a heart of gold.”
On Dec. 30, Cardenas and Antero were at their apartment with their 4-year-old son on South St. Augustine Drive when two people knocked on their door.
“They were asking for help. They were wanting a plunger,” said Cardenas.
The two forced their way into the home. One person was showing a gun.
“I’m slamming the door on his hand, and I’m holding the door with all the strength that I could pull,” Cardenas said. “My husband grabbed his weapon and jumped in front of my son and protected my son. They started shooting him.”
Cardenas said her husband shot back just before falling down.
“He said, ‘They hit me. They hit me. I’m going to die. I don’t want to die in here,’” said Cardenas.
After being rushed to the hospital, Antero died.
“We were his everything. We were all that mattered to him,” said Cardenas.
On Jan. 3, the family was planning to finally see their newest addition as Cardenas is pregnant.
“We were supposed to go hear the heart,” Cardenas said. “I’ve suffered two miscarriages. We’ve been trying for these couple of years. It finally happened… I have to welcome this new baby into the world without a father.”
Cardenas’ son witnessed the entire shooting.
“My son goes to sleep crying. What am I supposed to do?” asked Cardenas.
A GoFundMe has been started to help raise funds for Antero's funeral expenses. Anyone who wants to donate can do so by visiting here.
Dallas police say three suspects were seen on surveillance video running from the scene. They got into a red vehicle and left, according to police.
The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Christian at 469-670-4735.
“I just need you guys to turn yourselves in because what you did was wrong," Cardenas said. "No one’s life should be taken away because you wanted what we had. You’ll never have what we had or what we continue to have. You’ll never take his place."