Displaying unimaginable strength of their Christian faith, a Texas family said, “We offer forgiveness” during the trial of 19-year-old Jonathan Perales, who shot and killed a beloved member of their family, Michael Robinson.
KENS5 reports that Perales broke into the Robinsons’ home on October 10, 2017, armed and with the intent to commit a burglary. Upon entry, he was confronted by 51-year-old Michael, who was a respected physician’s assistant in Universal City (outside San Antonio). Michael died during the gunfight, shot fatally by Perales.
“He was the best big brother and son,” said Michael’s sister. “He was patient and protective of us.”
“I had to walk down the aisle without my father next to me,” said his daughter, who got married this past summer.
During the trial, Perales testified that he didn’t mean to hurt anyone; he was just high on Xanax and looking for stuff to steal. He had picked the home at random, entering through an unlocked back door. Before the gunfight, according to My San Antonio:
Perales … had already been into the house twice, loading items into his car outside when the family discovered there was an intruder. Robinson’s wife told her husband someone had broken into their home, and he grabbed his Glock and yelled out for the intruder to leave. Perales testified that he yelled back that he was leaving and was trying to find his way out of the darkened house when he opened the Robinson couple’s bedroom door by mistake, heard gunfire and fired back before running away.
“I know it was his right to shoot at me and I was in the complete wrong,” Perales said in court.
Perales was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Here is a video detailing the trial and a brief quote from the prosecutor:
Below is a video of Perales taking the stand, relating the events.
“You take a few [Xanax], it messes with your memory,” Perales said. “It makes you do things you really, most of the time, wouldn’t do… but in the back of your mind, you do know right from wrong.”
“It could have gone both ways,” Perales’ mother said tearfully following the trial, “but God chose my son to live, and I believe this is his second chance to redeem himself and to live for the purpose of God.”
Would you be able to forgive someone who killed a family member?