Josselin Corea Escalante, a young girl who fled the violence of Guatemala with her family, tragically met an even more devastating fate in the United States. Her life, which began in the hope of safety, was cut short in a Nashville high school cafeteria. Just one week after a 16-year-old was shot at the same school, Josselin’s family made the agonizing decision to send her body back to Guatemala.

The Search for Safety

At 9 years old, Josselin and her family left Guatemala, believing the U.S. would offer the safety they desperately sought. Their perilous journey brought them to Tennessee, where they tried to build a new life. In 2023, Josselin—known as Dallana to her loved ones—celebrated her 15th birthday with a quinceañera in Nashville, marking what seemed to be a bright future ahead.

Tragedy Strikes

However, that dream was shattered on January 22, 2025, when a student with a history of hateful rhetoric opened fire at Antioch High School, killing Josselin and injuring another student before turning the gun on himself. While the police have not confirmed whether Josselin was specifically targeted, the tragedy highlights the broader issue of rampant school shootings in the U.S.

Questioning the Decision to Flee

Now, Josselin’s family is left to question whether their decision to seek refuge in the U.S. was worth it. They fled Guatemala to escape the violence of gang activity and kidnappings. Instead, they’ve found themselves mourning the loss of their daughter in a country that promised safety. German Corea, Josselin’s father, voiced his disillusionment, revealing that in Guatemala, the idea of a child being murdered in school was unfathomable. And yet, here they are.

A Heartbreaking Decision

In the face of their overwhelming grief, the Coreas made another painful choice: to send Josselin’s body back to Guatemala for burial. This decision was not just about honoring their daughter’s memory but also about preparing for the possibility that they may have to return to their home country. German, who arrived in the U.S. before his family, is not part of their asylum case and faces the risk of deportation. If they are forced to leave, at least they will be able to return to Guatemala with her.

Josselin’s Hopes and Dreams

Josselin had been thriving in Nashville. She loved singing, playing soccer, and dreamed of becoming a doctor—a dream her uncle Carlos Corea reflected on, saying, “A doctor saves lives, and this was not fair to her.”

A Nation in Crisis

The shooting at Antioch High School is part of a much larger crisis. By the end of January 2025, there had already been at least 15 school shootings across the country, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. This epidemic of violence is sweeping through U.S. schools, and the Coreas are just one of many families caught in its destructive path.

Speaking Out

Josselin’s uncles, Carlos and Juan Corea, have had enough of staying silent. They joined protests outside the Tennessee State Capitol, demanding action on gun control. Holding pictures of Josselin in her quinceañera gown, they spoke out against the senseless violence and the ongoing threat posed by guns in schools.

Carlos, speaking on behalf of the family, directly addressed the crowd, connecting their grief to the broader issue of gun violence, while also linking it to the fears surrounding immigration enforcement. Their quiet mourning has transformed into a call for action and justice.

A Father’s Plea

German Corea, Josselin’s father, has made a plea to other parents who have lost children in school shootings. He urged them to “keep fighting for justice,” warning that if the public remains silent, tragedies like this will continue to occur.

The Ongoing Impact

Though Antioch High School has added security measures, including additional resource officers and metal detectors, Josselin’s cousins, who were at the school that day, are too terrified to return. They plan to transfer to another school. The fear and anxiety that have gripped the family since Josselin’s death speak volumes about the reality of school violence in America today.

Josselin’s Final Journey

On Thursday, Josselin’s pink coffin was loaded onto a plane for her final journey back to Guatemala, where her grandparents and aunt awaited her arrival. But for her family, it’s too late. The country that promised safety failed to protect her. Now, they are left to mourn, question, and pick up the pieces of a life that should have been.