Elio Cumana-Rivas: Last victim of Allen mass shooting was a delivery man who moved to US to help family

2023-05-11 15:21

Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, was described by his friends as a person with a deep soul and a big heart

ALLEN, TEXAS: Authorities have identified the last victim of the Allen mass shooting as Elio Cumana-Rivas, a 32-year-old from Venezuela. Cumana-Rivas was among the eight people killed in the shooting on May 6, which also claimed the lives of a security guard, an engineer and two elementary school students, among others.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation, with support from Allen police and the FBI. The shooter, Mauricio Garcia, who lived in Dallas, was armed with an AR-15 style assault weapon. He was also wearing a tactical vest and had a handgun. He was killed by a police officer when he was on the rampage.

Allen mass shooting: 9 dead and 7 injured as gunman is killed by police

Who was Elio Cumana-Rivas?

Cumana-Rivas moved to the US from Panama in 2022 to support his family back in Venezuela. According to his brother, Gregory Smith, he worked as a delivery man in Texas and ensured he was in touch with his loved ones back home. He was described by his friends as a person with a deep soul and a big heart. He was known for having great taste in music and enjoying spending time at the beach. His tragic death has left his family and friends devastated.

"We were all very close," Gregory told CNN, adding, "He helped his mother buy her medicine, and he would also contact our dad and make sure he had everything he needed. Elio’s goal was to grow as a person and his dream was to find a place where he could grow and help his loved ones. That’s what drove him to move to Panama and then the United States."

'It’s a pain you can’t describe'

According to Gregory, the family learnt about Cumana-Rivas' death through a law enforcement official who contacted his younger brother living in Chile. "We were watching the news about the Venezuelans who got hit by a car in Texas. But we never would’ve imagined that my brother would end up being a victim of the shooting that happened Saturday," Gregory said, adding, "My father is going through a very hard time right now. It’s a pain you can’t describe."

Family friend Fernando Guitian said that he has fond memories of spending time with Cumana-Rivas in Venezuela. "I knew Elio since he was a child. He grew up playing with my daughters. We all lived in Higuerote," Guitian said. He described the 32-year-old as a good person and a hard-worker who "adored his mother."