Naman Shrestha
20-year-old Gabriel Perez had a whole life ahead of him when he was suddenly attacked and murdered by a mysterious man outside of a fast-food restaurant in Fargo, North Dakota. The untimely passing of the young man sent shockwaves across the entire community, while his friends and family were left devastated. Thanks to the CCTV footage of the area, the detectives managed to apprehend the perpetrator responsible for the gruesome crime. The episode titled ‘The Skateboarder’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘See No Evil’ focuses on the case and covers all the intricate details of the investigation that ensued.
Gabriel Perez Was Found Murdered Outside of a McDonald’s Restaurant in Fargo
The beloved son of Gabriel Perez Sr. and Lisa Marie Gonzalez, Gabriel Perez Jr. was a bright young man with a free-spirited and kind personality. Born on April 19, 1998, he was raised in a caring and affectionate household amid the company of his siblings — brother, Carlos Perez, and sisters, Larrissa Gonzalez, Lisette Perez, Angeliqe Gonzalez, and Shai Gonzalez. Gabriel grew up surrounded by immense love and warmth, which was reflected in his humble demeanor. The Fargo, North Dakota, resident loved the outdoors and harbored a deep love for skating. When not working, he enjoyed spending time with his friends and family members. One to give the squishiest hugs, Gabriel went to great lengths to lift the spirits of those he adored. Those who knew him described him as someone who would always mind his business, but never hesitated to extend a helping hand to anyone in need.
The 20-year-old was hopeful for the future and had his whole life ahead of him when he was snatched from his loved ones in a matter of minutes on September 23, 2018. What began as a regular Sunday morning turned into a deadly nightmare for Gabriel’s friends and family members. At 5:30 am on the fateful day, Gabriel was sitting by the curb in front of a McDonald’s restaurant at 905 Main Avenue when a man drove up to him and opened fire at the young man. The police were swiftly called to the scene. The medical team tried their best to save his life, but to no avail, as he succumbed to his injuries. According to the medical examiner, Gabriel was hit three times and sustained multiple gunshot wounds, which proved fatal. Soon, the authorities began an investigation into the shooting of the 20-year-old.
Jealousy Was the Possible Motive for Gabriel Perez’s Killer
First and foremost, the investigators checked out the surveillance footage of the area to find out how the crime occurred and if they could get a lead. They spotted the shooter pulling up his dark Chevrolet Trailblazer and shooting multiple rounds at Gabriel Perez on the curb, right outside the McDonald’s. On the same evening of the crime, the vehicle with multiple distinctive stickers was found in Moorhead, Minnesota, after which it was taken to an impound lot. Upon inspection of the car, the detectives discovered a .45 caliber bullet casing in front of the windshield and remnants of stickers on the car.
Meanwhile, the authorities also received a tip from Gabriel’s uncle, Louis Perez, who had found a phone number in the 20-year-old’s room. Louis told the detectives that he called the number and spoke with a woman named Isabella “Izetta” Cooley, who claimed that her husband, Miguel Jay Cooley Sr., was responsible for the murder. Upon digging deeper, the investigators learned that a suspected relationship between Izetta and Gabriel could have motivated Miguel to commit the crime. However, Izetta denied the allegations of any affair between her and Gabriel, a friend of her oldest son. She claimed that Miguel had allowed him to stay with them when he had no place to crash. As per her claims, her husband was enraged because of the victim’s interactions with some of their family members.
The authorities also found evidence indicating that the shooter lured the 20-year-old using Facebook. Their suspicions against him got stronger when several witnesses from Moorhead and West Fargo claimed that they had heard him admitting to the shooting. On the night of September 24, 2018, the detectives located Miguel in his house near Rochester, Minnesota, and a SWAT team surrounded the property, ordering him to come out of the house. He was reportedly taken into custody without incident as he surrendered himself to the authorities then and there. He was charged with the murder of 20-year-old Gabriel Perez and held in Mower County Jail in Austin, Minnesota.
Miguel Jay Cooley Sr. is Incarcerated at a North Dakota Prison Facility
The following month, in October 2018, Miguel Jay Cooley Sr. was officially arraigned as his bond was set at $1 million cash-only. Less than a year later, in August 2019, he decided to avoid trial by pleading guilty to a Class AA felony count of intentional murder in connection with the September 2018 murder of 20-year-old Gabriel Perez outside the Main Avenue McDonald’s in Fargo, North Dakota. A few months later, on January 13, 2020, Miguel was sentenced to 50 years in prison, out of which 35 years were to be served behind bars, followed by 15 years of supervised probation with good behavior. However, the probation period was reduced to 10 years due to an error. The sentencing did not sit well with Garbiel’s family members, who were vocal about their disappointment in the courtroom. As of today, Miguel Jay Cooley Sr. is serving his sentence at North Dakota State Penitentiary in Bismarck, North Dakota.
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