Memorial Day weekend at Grapevine Lake is usually about as Texas as it gets. You’ve got the smell of charcoal grills, families packed onto the shoreline at Oak Grove Park, and enough boats on the water to make traffic in Dallas look light. But in 2025, that holiday vibe turned into a nightmare that North Texas hasn't really shaken off yet.
It was May 25th. Ava Moore, an 18-year-old who basically had her whole life mapped out, was out on the water. She wasn’t doing anything wild. Honestly, she was just kayaking.
Then things went sideways.
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The Grapevine Lake Incident: A Tragedy in Seconds
Ava Moore was no stranger to hard work. She had just finished her first year at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado and was back home for a bit before the real deal started. She was an athlete—basketball and golf at Timber Creek High—and by all accounts, she was the kind of person who actually made the room better just by being in it.
Around 5:20 p.m., Ava and another friend were paddling their kayaks near the shoreline. Witnesses later told investigators that a jet ski—a personal watercraft or PWC—was being operated recklessly. It wasn't just "going fast." According to arrest affidavits, the driver was making high-speed passes dangerously close to the shore and other people in the water.
Ava saw it coming. She and her friend tried to paddle away. They were literally trying to get out of the way of the danger, but the jet ski struck Ava’s kayak from behind.
The impact was devastating.
People on the shore, like witness Lisa Scrabeck, rushed to help. Ava was pulled from the water, and even though she was wearing a life jacket, the head trauma was just too severe. She died at the hospital later that evening.
The Escape and the Arrests
What made this story go viral wasn't just the loss of a young woman with a bright military career ahead of her. It was what happened after the collision.
Instead of staying to help, the operator of the jet ski, 21-year-old Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez-Gonzalez, fled. She didn't just leave the water; she and a man named Maikel Coello Perozo allegedly hopped into a blue Toyota Corolla and took off, hitting two other cars in the parking lot as they scrambled to get away.
Police eventually found them at a residence in Dallas. They had suitcases packed. It looked like they were planning on disappearing.
Legal Fallout and Public Outcry
The case of Ava Moore Grapevine Lake quickly became a flashpoint for several heated national conversations. For one, the suspects were Venezuelan nationals who had entered the country in 2023 or 2024. This brought a heavy political lens to the tragedy, with Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton weighing in on the immigration status of the accused.
But for the community in Grapevine and Fort Worth, it was more personal. It was about a girl who played ball at Timber Creek and was about to serve her country.
Daikerlyn Gonzalez-Gonzalez was hit with a mountain of charges:
- Manslaughter (a second-degree felony)
- Reckless operation of a PWC
- Leaving the scene of an accident involving death
By January 2024, the legal system started moving. Prosecutors offered Gonzalez-Gonzalez a plea deal: 20 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea. That’s the maximum sentence for manslaughter in Texas. As of early 2026, the community is still watching the Tarrant County court dockets to see if she takes the deal or if this goes to a full-blown trial.
Safety on the Water: What Went Wrong?
Texas Game Wardens were spread thin that weekend. It’s the busiest weekend of the year for North Texas lakes. Captain Joseph Quintero pointed out something that most weekend warriors forget: the 50-foot rule.
Basically, if you’re on a jet ski and you’re within 50 feet of another boat, a person, or the shore, you have to be at "headway speed." That’s just enough power to maintain steerage. No wake. No spray.
The investigation showed the jet ski was going way faster than that.
The Moore family hasn't just sat back, though. They’ve been pushing for "Ava’s Law" or similar reforms. They want better signage at the lakes, more patrols, and a dedicated emergency line for waterway incidents. They’re also looking into why there wasn't more of a police presence in such a high-traffic area that day.
A Legacy of Forgiveness
In a statement that honestly surprised a lot of people, Ava’s family talked about forgiveness. They said that while they want justice, they know that healing only comes through letting go of the hate. It’s a heavy thing to say when you’ve lost a daughter just weeks before she was supposed to start basic training.
Her funeral at The Met Church in Fort Worth included full military honors. It was a reminder of the life she was supposed to live.
Moving Forward: Actionable Safety Steps
If you're heading out to Grapevine Lake or any other North Texas water spot, there are things you can do so this doesn't happen again.
- Keep Your Distance: Seriously, the 50-foot rule is there for a reason. If you can’t see the person's eyes in the other boat, you’re probably too close to be going fast.
- Kayakers, Be Visible: Use bright-colored gear. Ava did everything right—she had a life jacket and was near the shore—but being extra visible never hurts.
- Report Recklessness: If you see someone "buzzing" the shore or acting like a maniac on a PWC, call the Game Wardens or local lake police immediately. Don't wait for an accident to happen.
- Know the Laws: If you were born after September 1, 1993, you legally must take a Boater Education course to operate certain vessels in Texas. Many people skip this, but it’s the law.
The tragedy of Ava Moore at Grapevine Lake is a stark reminder that the lake is a shared space. One person's "fun" can end someone else's life in a heartbeat. As the court case winds down in 2026, the focus remains on making sure the "50-foot rule" isn't just a suggestion, but a life-saving standard.
Next Steps for Awareness
- Check the Texas Parks and Wildlife website for updated boating safety courses.
- Support local initiatives for increased lake patrol funding during holiday weekends.
- Advocate for clearer "No Wake" and "Paddle Only" zones in high-traffic parks like Oak Grove.