TUCSON, Ariz – Family members are mourning a 22-year-old Arizona woman who was taken off life support days after allegedly falling from her boyfriend’s car in a domestic violence incident.
Zahriya Moreno, 22, had her organs donated on Wednesday, barely two days after being seriously injured in an alleged domestic violence incident with her partner, according to KOLD.
The 22-year-old’s Honor Walk took place at 1:12 p.m. at a hospital in Tucson, Arizona, according to her relatives. Her father, Robert Moreno, says he awoke afraid on Wednesday, knowing his daughter was going to be taken off life support.
“It’s wonderful to know that parts of my baby will live on, but there’s no words, no anything, that will ever be able to make this better,” he told me.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Zahriya Moreno was injured in a Monday morning incident. Her partner, Angelito Adrian Olivas, 25, was arrested on accusations of felony domestic abuse, aggravated assault, and criminal endangerment.
According to the interim complaint, the couple argued early Monday morning. Zahriya Moreno leaped on the trunk of Olivas’ car as he attempted to flee the scene.
According to the affidavit, Olivas was aware that his girlfriend was in the trunk but continued to drive. She eventually slipped off and became unresponsive. She was later transported to a hospital.
“There will be a lot of darkness in the future, but we will push through it, no matter how painful it is, because that is what our daughter would have wanted for us. “I’m devastated,” Robert Moreno stated.
He claims his daughter loved ROTC and remained strong even after the death of her twin brother, Izac Moreno, in a motorbike accident in 2021.
“Mom would often hear her crying in her room alone because she didn’t want everyone else to know her weakness, and we relied on her strength. “I hope we can fill it now,” Robert Moreno stated.
More than 100 people gathered at the hospital on Wednesday to offer their support for the Moreno family. Robert Moreno says he was astounded by the community’s response.
“I imagined it would simply be family and friends. “I couldn’t have imagined the outpouring of support,” he said.
Olivas was released from detention Monday after posting a $2,500 bond, prompting Robert Moreno to urge for justice and the courts to “do their jobs.”
“It almost felt like a joke. “I’m disappointed with the judge and the legal system,” he stated.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please know that there are resources available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or the Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse at 1-888-428-0101.