Young Valentine's Day shooting victim's father on memorial trail ride: 'Everyone is here gathering just to show that justice wasn't served for my daughter'

The family of a little girl who was fatally shot in the parking lot of a southeast Houston bank on Valentine’s Day more than a year ago marked the first anniversary of the horrific tragedy with a trail ride on Sunday, Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported. 

Nine-year-old Arlene Alvarez and her family were reportedly headed to dinner at her favorite restaurant, Spanky's Pizza, when gunfire from a purported ATM robbery struck the De Zavala Elementary School fourth grader, who succumbed to her injuries at the hospital the next day.

KHOU reported that Arlene’s parents, Wendy and Armando Alvarez, were joined by supporters for the trail ride. 

According to the station, the Alvarezes believe not much progress has been made in their late daughter’s case. 

"Everyone is here gathering just to show that justice wasn't served for my daughter," Armando Alvarez said, per KHOU. "Everyone is here to support us. To show us that we have not forgotten and it's not going to be swept under the rug."

Houston Daily reported last July the Harris County District Attorney’s (DA) Office determined that Tony Earls, who fired the shots, was the apparent victim of the robbery that took place just as the Alvarezes arrived, and a grand jury declined to indict him on aggravated assault. 

KHOU reported that authorities continue to search for the unidentified culprit who robbed Earls. 

Citing Houston NBC affiliate KPRC, Houston Daily reported that authorities described the suspect as a tall, medium to dark-skinned male, with a medium to heavyset build who wore a mask and gloves. 

Crime Stoppers of Houston and Landry’s owner Tilman Fertitta pooled their resources for a $30,000 cash reward for the suspect’s capture, according to the publication.

The unenviable emotions caused by the girl’s untimely passing were exacerbated by a break-in at the Alvarez residence over the summer while the family vacationed at Disney World in Florida and the theft of their truck in early October. 

Wendy Alvarez divulged to Houston FOX affiliate KRIV the incidents happened at “our most vulnerable stage,” Houston Daily reported. 

Armando Alvarez eventually retrieved the vehicle with the help of police, who apprehended the alleged thief at a retention pond after a foot chase.