Houston Police Department

December 15, 2005 -- HPD Homicide Family Violence Unit Officer Micheal Ybanez made the Christmas wishes of a little girl come true by providing her with toys, gifts and a bike. What makes this little girl so special is that she was the victim of a shooting at the hand of her own father.

In November 2005, six year-old Keyli Cartajena and her mother Elydia Mejia were shot by Ms. Mejia's husband. He also tried to shoot his step-son, but the weapon misfired. The step-son, Jairo Mejia (20) was struck with the pistol. The father, Mario Cartajena has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault and is in custody.

Recently, Ms. Mejia and her dauther Keyli were in the HPD Family Violence Unit office and Officer Ybanez presented Keyli with several gifts including a bike from his participation in the HPD Blue Santa Program. Keyli is doing well but has bullet fragments in her forearm. This is one of many acts of kindness preformed this time of the year by officers and staff of the Houston Police Department Homicide Family Violence Unit.

Since 1984 the HPD Blue Santa Program has delivered thousands of gifts, toys and holiday cheer to needy children and their families. During the year, Houston police officers identify those families in need. In an effort to draw more attention to the program, Blue Santa organizers hold a "bike drop" where Houstonians are encouraged to bring a bike for a child. Last year Blue Santa delivered over 550 bikes and over 25-thousand toys to those less fortunate. This year, about 10-thousand children are on the Blue Santa Christmas list. One-thousand bikes are expected to be collected. Donations from police personnel are expected to top $125,000. It's never to late to join Blue Santa.

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.