Family of boy, 11, allegedly killed by illegal immigrant in California hit and run post heartbreaking tributes: ‘Fly high, my warrior child’

When the family of 11‑year‑old Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz walked into a San Diego courtroom on Wednesday, they carried both grief and an unwavering demand for justice. They were facing the alleged hit‑and‑run driver, a homeless Mexican immigrant charged with taking their son’s life.

“Fly high, my warrior child,” one of Aiden’s relatives wrote in Spanish. The post featured a black‑and‑white picture of Aiden grinning beside a birthday cake—the last celebration he ever had. In another photo, the relative stood shoulder to shoulder with Aiden, adding the caption, “My angel.”

A GoFundMe page quickly appeared, asserting that “Aiden deserves justice.” Yet the tragic story began weeks before Thanksgiving: on November 26, Aiden chased a soccer ball across the street outside his Escondido home when a vehicle ran him over and fled, leaving him unconscious until he was later pronounced dead at a hospital on Thanksgiving morning.

Hector Balderas‑Aheelor was detained a few days after the incident. U.S. immigration officials revealed he had been deported from the country four times, the most recent removal dated 2004, and had no prior criminal record.

Investigators can’t determine the speed at which Balderas‑Aheelor was driving, although the road has a 35‑mph limit.

On Wednesday, the accused appeared in court, pled not guilty to felony hit‑and‑run and death or injury charges. The family attended in matching shirts bearing photos of Aiden and glared at the defendant from the gallery. Balderas‑Aheelor was granted $300,000 bail, and the judge prohibited journalists from photographing his face. Prosecutors labeled him a flight risk and a transient.

After the hearing, Aiden’s relatives were too heartbroken to speak with reporters. “We’re doing the best that we can under the circumstances,” aunt Irene Gonzales said to The Post, refusing to offer additional comments. Instead, the family let pictures of Aiden speak on social media.

Another relative posted images of Aiden laughing and making goofy faces in a Padres jersey. They also organized a moving memorial outside their home that included Aiden’s favorite snacks—Takis, Nerds, Sprite, and ramen—plus his toys and photos, all surrounded by lit candles.

A short video captured the makeshift shrine, highlighting the personal items that comforted Aiden while he was alive. The family also held a service at the home immediately after the court session, with a small casket placed nearby.

Prosecutors reaffirmed their commitment to holding the accused accountable. “This case is a tragedy and every parent’s worst nightmare. We are doing everything we can to bring justice to Aiden’s family,” Deputy District Attorney Nicole Gerard said after the hearing.