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On April 18, a seemingly ordinary weekend outing took a horrifying turn for Gabriella Perez, 27, her daughter Amelia, her partner Xavier Estrada, and grandfather Richard Ariaza. The family traveled from LaCoste to Espada Park for a day of fishing, expecting to catch bass, catfish, and sunfish. However, around 2 p.m., while Gabriella was with her three-year-old daughter in the restroom, chaos erupted.

As they exited, a man, later identified as 24-year-old Atharva Vyas, an undocumented immigrant from India, attacked Gabriella. Witnesses described him as being in a frenzied state, likely due to drug use. He violently grabbed Gabriella by her hair and struck her in the face. In a desperate attempt to protect her daughter, Gabriella put Amelia down, but Vyas then turned his aggression towards the child.

He pinned Amelia to the ground, inflicting severe harm by jamming his thumbs into her eyes and biting her face. Gabriella recounted the horror, stating, "That brute was ravaging my baby. She's terrified to sleep. She's lashing out, angry. She doesn't understand evil like this man. She'll never be the same again."

Immediate Response and Medical Attention The Attack and Its Aftermath

Authorities reported that Vyas was under the influence of a potent cannabis extract known as "wax," which can lead to extreme and erratic behavior. Bystanders at the park quickly intervened, pulling Vyas away from Amelia. Gabriella called for Xavier, who rushed to help. In the midst of the chaos, two men in the crowd brandished firearms, while others continued to restrain Vyas until police arrived, finding him semi-conscious.

Emergency medical services transported Amelia and her family to Christus Children's Hospital, where it was discovered that the toddler had sustained deep scratches, bite wounds, and had lost two front teeth. Gabriella described the scene in the emergency room, noting the distress of the adults around them while Amelia remained eerily quiet, seemingly in shock from the traumatic event.

Background on the Attacker Who Is Atharva Vyas?

Vyas entered the United States from India on a student visa in August 2023. Just three months later, he was arrested on the University of Texas campus for felony assault. Although the university notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement, federal officials under the Biden administration deemed the offense insufficient to revoke his visa, allowing him to remain in the country. It wasn't until April 2025, during the Trump administration, that his visa was revoked due to the earlier assault.

Following the attack in the park, ICE requested that local authorities detain Vyas after he navigates the local court system. He is currently held at the Bexar County Detention Center, facing charges of injury to a child with intent to cause bodily harm, assault, and illegal entry.

Government Accountability and Family Healing Federal Officials Point Fingers at Previous Administration

The Department of Homeland Security has openly criticized the previous administration's decisions, asserting that the attack was preventable. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, "This barbaric assault against this woman and her 3-year-old child in a park was completely preventable. The Biden administration NEVER should have released this animal following his arrest for assault." A DHS spokesperson emphasized the agency's commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future.

A Family Focused on HealingIn the wake of this traumatic event, Gabriella Perez has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with her daughter's recovery expenses. She expressed the emotional toll the attack has taken on their family, stating, "We need people to send us prayers. We are focusing on healing and recovery." She poignantly remarked on the dangers present in the world, saying, "Even though you try to protect your children, this is a dangerous world with dangerous people." Victims of crimes involving illegal migrants can contact the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office at 1-855-488-6425.