On a fateful day, Xavier Gatewood gruesomely murdered Anthony Perez-Fox and attempted to kill me, Maria Perez. He didn't even spare our innocent dog, Hoops, who was shot and later succumbed to his injuries on 6/21/24. The incident has left a permanent scar on my life.

Now, Xavier, who is currently housed in Cook County Jail 2600 S California, has filed an appeal for Pre-Trial Release, claiming self-defense. But we all know that such claims are a desperate attempt to escape justice. We have seen our loved ones suffer, and we have endured pain and loss like no other. We have every right to hope for justice, and we should not allow a murderer's unjust plea to influence the course of law.

We understand that everyone deserves a fair trial, but pretrial release in such a severe case, where the defendant presents a clear danger to public safety, is unreasonable. Across the three offenses, Xavier exhibits a disregard for human life and an alarming pattern of violence. Cook County, known to hold the majority of violent criminals, must be mindful of public safety when considering pretrial release requests like Xavier's.

This is not about retribution but rather about ensuring the safety of our community in Steger, IL, and making sure that justice is served. We need your support to tell the legal system that we will not allow such a dangerous individual to return to our streets before his trial. Please sign this petition to deny Xavier Gatewood's pretrial release and support justice for Anthony Perez-Fox, myself, and Hoops.