AN 11-year-old boy was shot dead by his own father – once hailed “Father of the Year” – inside a public airport bathroom.

Callan Perez was killed on April 14 when police say his father, Giovanni Perez, opened fire before turning the gun on himself.

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Callan Perez, 11, was shot dead by his own dadCredit: Gofundme
 

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Giovanni Perez, opened fire before turning the gun on himself.Credit: Facebook
Cops were called to the Elko Regional Airport in Nevada at 12:38pm near the airline ticket counter, where officers found Giovanni Perez dead at the scene.

Callan was discovered moments later inside a rest room with gunshot wounds.

He was rushed to hospital but did not survive.

Family members say they are facing “the most unimaginable heartbreak,” describing Callan as a child who was taken by “someone who was supposed to protect him.”

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In a GoFundMe appeal, relatives said he was “smart, funny, kind, wise beyond his years,” adding he had “a smile that lit up every room.”

The fundraiser also said: “He had the biggest heart and the sweetest soul. He deserved so much more life, so many more laughs, and a future that was stolen far too soon.” It is raising funds for funeral costs and an expected legal battle.

Investigators say the father and son had been travelling toward the Reno area when their rental car broke down, forcing them to be towed to the airport to collect another vehicle.

Authorities have confirmed there was an ongoing custody dispute involving Callan’s maternal grandparents.

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His mother did not have custody at the time, though her parents had been fighting for it.

Police said Perez was allegedly attempting to keep Callan away from relatives on both sides.

The investigation remains ongoing, with officers warning the full circumstances may never be known.

In a statement, police said: “We still do not have a motive for this horrific incident and may never know why Callan’s life was taken,” adding that their “hearts remain with the family.”

Detectives also confirmed the pair were travelling to the Reno area for reasons still unclear.

Giovanni Perez had reportedly claimed he was suffering from PTSD linked to his time in the US Army, where he served as a cook during a deployment to Iraq.

Callan, who attended Luther Burbank Elementary School in Merced as a fourth-grade student, was described by his school district as part of “an unimaginable tragedy.”

He was not enrolled this school year.

In a haunting detail, Callan had last year placed third in a school essay contest titled “Father of the Year,” which asked students to write about what fatherhood meant to them.

The Merced County Office of Education contest drew nearly 100 entries and was later celebrated at an annual fatherhood event.

His family say they are now preparing for a legal fight alongside their grief, demanding accountability and justice for what they believe was a system that failed to protect him.

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Giovanni Perez’s background is also being reviewed as part of the investigation, including reported mental health struggles following military service.

The community has been left reeling by the loss of a child described as bright, loving and deeply cherished, while authorities have urged anyone affected to seek support via the 988 crisis line.

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The boy was shot inside a public restroom at Elko Regional airportCredit: KUTV
 

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Police said Perez was allegedly attempting to keep Callan away from relatives on both sidesCredit: Gofundme
 

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Authorities have confirmed there was an ongoing custody disputeCredit: Gofundme