Iris Rodriguez, 7, was walking back from a West Side store with her mother, Eva Juarez, and Juarez’s boyfriend Wednesday night after a run to grab candy.

The three were approaching the fence of Iris’ grandmother’s home in the 5500 block of San Fernando Street when a group of people arguing among themselves gave the boyfriend one warning to take Iris inside, her grandmother Josephine Juarez said.

“They started saying, ‘You better run and take her inside.’ But they didn’t give her a chance to take her inside. They just started shooting,” her grandmother said.

Iris was struck in the head. Her mother, grazed by a bullet in the arm, cradled Iris until police arrived. At 6:08 p.m. Thursday, Iris died as a result of her injuries, police said.

On Friday night, police arrested Frank Gomez, 28, on a capital murder warrant in connection with Iris’ death.

According to police, Gomez was being questioned by investigators late Friday. No further details on his arrest were available.

After the shooting, four people were spotted leaving the scene in what police described as a white Chevrolet Impala with a spare tire in the front right seat. Police believe Gomez was one of them.

Officer Douglas Greene, spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department, said officers worked minute-to-minute to find him.

Iris’ mother was still recovering in the hospital Friday, the girl’s grandmother said.

“That is her only child. These people destroyed my daughter’s life completely,” Juares said. “She’s like, ‘Mom, I don’t want to live anymore. My daughter’s gone.’”

Juarez said her granddaughter was so close to making it to the house.

“Maybe if she ran a little bit faster. It was 2 feet to run inside,” she said.

Iris was transported to University Hospital, where she remained on life support in the intensive care unit until she died.

One room away, another girl, just 5 years old, also was on life support, the victim of a separate shooting an hour after Iris was wounded. She had been lying in bed at her home in the 800 block of Pecan Valley Drive when four men in a vehicle backed into a car in the driveway, according to preliminary information from a police report.

A relative of the girl walked outside to confront the men, who pulled out guns as they began arguing, police said. The gunmen shot and injured the man confronting them and continued shooting at the house, investigators said.

He was taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center in critical condition. His condition had improved only slightly Friday.

One of the rounds entered the house and struck the girl in her head, police said. She was still on life support Friday, according to police.

Iris loved to play and cook with her family, Juarez said, adding that she always brought a smile to everyone in her family.

“Even when we were sad, she would always bring smiles,” the girl’s grandmother recalled

Margil Elementary School Principal Maria Avila said Iris was an A and B student following in the footsteps of her mother, aunts, uncles and grandmother, each of whom had attended the school.

“She had a very supportive family system,” Avila recalled. “The grandmother, the aunt, the uncles. … Anytime we needed them, they were here for her.”

Avila said Iris had been looking forward to the end-of-the year party. The school year came to an end Friday.

“She was one of those students always in a good mood and helping others in the classroom,” Avila said. “She was excited for the last day of school, talking about her party. She didn’t get to experience that.”

Juarez said a candlelight vigil is planned for 8 p.m. Monday where Iris was shot. On Friday night, neighbors and passers-by were offering stuffed animals, candles and condolences to the family at a makeshift shrine.

University Hospital is planning to put a flag up to honor Iris for being an organ donor.

“I hope all four of ’em do get caught and get just what they deserve, because an innocent child had to leave her family over some stupid person that did that,” Juarez said.

jbeltran@express-news.net

Twitter: @JBfromSA