Josselin Corea Escalante, known as Dallana to her family, was just 9 years old when she embarked on a journey with her mother and younger brother from Guatemala to seek asylum in the United States. They believed that the U.S. would provide them with safety and a better future. After a harrowing two-month journey on foot, they ended up in Tennessee, where Josselin celebrated her 15th birthday with a spring quinceaƱera in a Nashville ballroom in 2023.
Tragically, last week, Josselin, now 16, was shot and killed by another student in her high school cafeteria. This devastating event has left her family, who are still awaiting an asylum decision, questioning whether staying in the U.S. is worth it. The main reason for their journey to the U.S. was to escape the fear of gang violence in Guatemala, where they worried that Josselin and her brother would be kidnapped or killed.
Josselin’s father, German Corea, expressed his disillusionment, stating that violence in schools was unheard of in Guatemala. The family made the heartbreaking decision to send Josselin’s body back to Guatemala for burial, ensuring that they would be reunited if they were forced to leave the U.S. Mr. Corea, who arrived in the country before his family and is not part of the asylum case, faces a higher risk of deportation.
Josselin had been thriving in Nashville, excelling in singing and soccer. She had dreams of becoming a doctor and was dedicated to her studies, even turning down trips to ensure she didn’t miss school. Her uncle, Carlos Corea, described her as someone who wanted to save lives, making her untimely death even more tragic.
The shooting at Antioch High School in South Nashville, where Josselin was killed, was carried out by a student who had expressed hateful rhetoric online. This incident is part of a troubling trend, with at least 15 shootings on or near school campuses reported in the first month of 2025, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.
In the wake of Josselin’s death, her family has been vocal about their grief and the need for change. Her uncles, Carlos and Juan Corea, participated in a protest at the Tennessee State Capitol, where they highlighted the intersection of immigration enforcement and gun violence. They carried pictures of Josselin, emphasizing the loss of a promising young life.
As the family grapples with their loss, they are determined to seek justice for Josselin. Her father, German Corea, urged other parents not to remain silent in the face of tragedy and to advocate for change. While Antioch High School has implemented additional security measures, Josselin’s cousins are too afraid to return and will enroll in a new school.
On Thursday, Josselin’s pink coffin was flown back to Guatemala for her burial, where her grandparents and aunt awaited her. The family continues to mourn their beloved Dallana, whose bright future was cut short by senseless violence.
