Family of Arlene Alvarez holds news conference after home burglarized to urge community to rally against crime in Harris County

HOUSTON – The family of a 9-year-old Houston girl who died after she was shot by a man who opened fire when he was robbed at an ATM last year held a news conference Thursday to urge the community to rally against increased crime in Harris County.

The news conference comes after the family said their home was broken into and ransacked when they returned from a family trip to Disney World to cheer up Arlene’s brother, according to a release.

READ: Family of Arlene Alvarez says they will continue to fight for justice despite grand jury declining to indict man accused of fatally shooting 9-year-old

“We have lived in this home for 30 years and have never had this happen before. We’ve always lived in a safe neighborhood and home. It is saddening that you cannot live in a home without a security system, and surveillance cameras are not even enough,” said April Aguirre, Arlene’s Aunt.

Earlier this year, someone also broke into Arlene’s mother’s car, according to the family.

“The fact that, we continue to be targeted, we just don’t feel safe anymore,” said mother Wendy Alvarez. “They have stole my peace, I don’t have no peace. I’m just destroyed right now, I already lost my daughter.”

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• ‘This was not self-defense’: Arlene Alvarez’s family demands justice for 9-year-old killed after robbery, accidental shooting at Chase Bank ATM
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• Newly-released surveillance video shows frightening ATM robbery which led to deadly shooting of innocent 9-year-old girl
• Wife of suspect in shooting death of 9-year-old says her husband is also victim