DALLAS — Family members of Marco Ramirez, 24, gathered together Thursday -- but not to celebrate Thanksgiving.
They met in a Dallas home on St. Mary Street to pray for full justice to come their way -- after one was arrested this week for Ramirez's murder. But investigators say three more are still at large.
Ramirez's younger sister, Karla, says her family has been holding a rosary every night at home. Friends and family of Ramirez attend, and each session has gotten so large--roughly two dozen chairs have been brought outside. They face a shrine for Ramirez, packed with flowers, candles and photos.
"Even though it hurts like hell, we just want my brother to be at peace," Karla Ramirez said. "It's sad, but at the same time, it's beautiful, because it shows how much my brother was loved. I would have never imagined that I would have to be praying a rosary for my brother. He was my protector -- my everything."
The shooting happened on Nov. 14 in the 5300 block of Parry Avenue, near I-30 and Barry Avenue. Police got the call at 4:23 a.m., according to records.
Family says a red Chevrolet truck that belonged to Ramirez's father near their home was stolen just before the shooting. Juan Ramirez, Marco's brother, told WFAA that Karla witnessed the theft and spotted the truck at a nearby home while driving around looking for it.
Ramirez said that she confronted the four thieves, and they hopped in the truck and took off.
"She saw everything happen, and she got out and was like, 'Hey, you took my dad's truck,'" Ramirez said.
According to Ramirez, Marco and his father worked side by side remodeling homes, using that truck daily. Ramirez added that it was more than just a property theft -- it was personal.
"When they took that truck, they took part of our livelihood," Juan Ramirez said.
Karla Ramirez called the police and Marco Ramirez, per Juan Ramirez, who had also joined the chase in his truck.
"She's on the phone with my brother -- telling him which street they were heading down, etc.," Juan Ramirez said.
A doorbell camera on Parry Avenue captured the suspects speeding by in the stolen truck and then the sister behind them in pursuit. Tires could be heard squealing; the thieves stopped because Marco blocked off the street with his truck on the other end.
Moments later, gunshots echoed throughout East Dallas. Marco was gunned down in the street, and the thieves split -- abandoning the truck not far from the shooting.
Karla Ramirez waited for paramedics with her wounded brother in her arms.
"Those were the longest moments of my life -- screaming for help," she said. "I felt so helpless, and I was just seeing the person I really love leave me. He saw me one last time, and then his face went blank. I was lost -- I didn't know what to do anymore."
Alejandro Deleon was arrested a few days after the murder when a fingerprint left on the stolen truck placed him at the scene, court documents read.
Deleon has a criminal history, so his hands are in police databases statewide. But investigators believe that three people with him, two men and a woman, are still at large. They're working to identify them right now.
It's one of the reasons why Karla Ramirez and her family continue to pray.
"We have a lot of faith in God, but at the end of the day, they're still out there breathing while my brother is gone," Karla Ramirez said.
Anyone who knows anything about this case is asked to call the Dallas Police Department.