'We go through the pain, and they don’t': Community marches for 9-year-old shooting victim

Dozens of people participated in a Feb. 19 march for Arlene Alvarez, a 9-year-old child who was fatally shot following a bank robbery in Southwest Houston on the night of Feb. 14.

According to Houston NBC affiliate KPRC, Arlene was sitting in her family's truck in the parking lot of Chase Bank at 2900 Woodridge when gunfire from the robbery struck the vehicle and hit the little girl in the backseat.

The Alvarez family was on their way to Valentine's Day dinner at a nearby pizzeria.

Carrying signs bearing Arlene's name, the marchers joined the girl's family in demanding justice. Several people knew at least one person who was a victim of gun violence. 

The loved ones of 11-year-old Darius Dugas and 9-year-old Ashanti Grant also participated in the march, KPRC reported.

Dugas was fatally shot outside of a residence in northeast Houston on Feb. 3, and Grant was killed on the Southwest Freeway on Feb. 8 while she went to the grocery store with her family.  

Elaine Grant Williams, Grant's grandmother, said she shares an unenviable tragic connection with the Alvarezes.

“Even at your saddest moments and your darkest days that somebody else understands and to be able to stand in their presence and know that what we are going through it helps to comfort you,” she told KPRC.

Police said Tony Earles was charged with aggravated assault in Arlene's death. 

Earles was the alleged victim of the robbery who fired at the perpetrator only for the shots to go in the direction of Alvarez's truck, according to KPRC. 

Armando Alvarez, Arlene's father, doesn't believe Earles acted in self-defense.

“We know the laws and where to shoot. If the person is not in front of you it’s not a threat anymore, so it’s not self-defense,” Armando Alvarez told KPRC.

Gwen Alvarez, Arlene's mother, is outraged that the suspect was able to bond out of jail.

"They need to be in jail. No bond," Gwen Alvarez said, KPRC reported. "They need to suffer what we suffer because we don’t sleep. We go through the pain, and they don’t."

Arlene and her family were headed to Spanky's Pizza at 4659 Telephone Road near 610 South Loop just as the robbery and the subsequent shooting occurred. 

The business said that it'll donate 30% of its President's Day proceeds to the Alvarez family, KPRC reported. Spanky's was Arlene's favorite restaurant.