The family of 38‑year‑old Marisol Perez and her 18‑month‑old son, Erik Jr., is sharing their grief after the two were killed in Thursday’s apartment explosion and fire in Dallas’ Oak Cliff.

The blast at the Clyde Apartments also claimed the life of community activist and Democratic Party precinct chair Sylvia Collins. Five others were injured.

Marisol’s sisters describe her as a devoted mother and a deeply loving person.

“She was a dedicated mom and a good person… she had a good heart and wonderful intentions,” said Maria Lopez, Marisol’s sister.

Family members rushed to the scene after receiving a call from police, hoping Marisol and her children had made it out safely.

“They told me they couldn’t find my sister and her baby. It was devastating,” Lopez said.

Daughter rescued from rubble

Marisol’s 9‑year‑old daughter, Vanessa, was pulled from the rubble by a good Samaritan moments after the explosion. She turns 10 on Monday.

“We don’t have any words to thank him. We are so grateful,” Lopez said.

“He risked his life. Anything could have happened when he ran across the street to get her,”  said sister Nora Carmona.

A close-knit family grieving

Marisol was one of four sisters, all of whom said they shared a tight bond.

“We called her Mari… or güera,” Lopez said.

“Every special occasion, she wanted me to do her makeup and hair. We’d laugh and bond. I miss it so much,” said sister Rosalinda Martinez.

The family says they are now focused on supporting Marisol’s husband, who was at work when the explosion happened.

“He wants justice. He knows this was not just a tragic accident. There have to be answers,” Carmona said.

Vigil planned for Sunday

The family is inviting the public to a vigil in honor of Marisol and Erik Jr. The event is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sunday.

A GoFundMe has also been created to help with funeral expenses.

H-E-B is one step closer to opening its first location in the city of Dallas.

The grocery chain filed a construction permit for the store at 635 and Hillcrest Road on Wednesday.

According to the permit, construction is set to begin in March 2027. The store is projected to open in September 2028.

When plans for the location were first announced last year, some neighbors raised concerns about the development. Those concerns included increased traffic, noise pollution and crime.

A primary concern is congestion in an already high-traffic area. H-E-B says it plans to add turn lanes and make other upgrades to ease congestion, but neighbors still have concerns.

When the zoning request was still being considered in December 2025, some drew comparisons between the abundance of grocery stores in northern Dallas to the long fight to bring more grocers to food deserts in southern Dallas. The rezoning request passed 14-1.

In a statement, H-E-B wrote: “We appreciate the thoughtful consideration from city officials, staff, and community members throughout this process. We are committed to serving Texans and look forward to bringing our first H-E-B store to the city of Dallas.”

Benjamin Scott, Group Vice President of Real Estate and Shopping Center Development for H-E-B said the new store will bring 800 new jobs and an estimated $24 million in tax revenue to Dallas over the next five years.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.