Southwest Transplant Alliance

The John F. Kennedy Learning Center fifth-grader, who was shot by his father Wednesday in a triple murder-suicide, had clung to life at Children's Medical Center Dallas until Thursday afternoon.

Family members said the boy's maternal relatives decided to donate all of his organs to turn their tragedy into something positive.

Another youngster and four adults received Ricky's organs.

"We feel proud to help somebody ... to know that someone will continue to live," said Ricky's paternal uncle Jose Faustino Alonso.

Ricky was the last survivor in his family of four. Police said his father, Jesus Alonso Sr., shot him, his 17-year-old brother, Jesus Alonso Jr., and their 34-year-old mother, Abigail Martinez Alonso.

Mr. Alonso, 37, then apparently turned the gun on himself in the family's Old East Dallas apartment.

Dallas police Sgt. Larry Lewis said Saturday that investigators suspect that marital problems may have been behind the shooting but noted that was only speculation.

"We may never know" a true motive, Sgt. Lewis said.

Pam Silvestri of the Southwest Transplant Alliance said Saturday that Ricky was a full organ donor whose heart saved the life of a 12-year-old boy. His liver, lungs, kidneys and pancreas went to at least four other people between the ages of 19 and 55.

"Families do tend to take comfort in making something good come out of something so horrible," Ms. Silvestri said. "It always amazes me that families dealing with such tragic circumstances can even consider the needs of others."

Despite the circumstances, Mr. Alonso said he hopes people remember his brother as a good person, a fanatic soccer player and a loving father whose children never lacked anything.

"If somebody asked him for a favor, he would be there for them," he said. "That's what he was known for."

Mr. Alonso said the family was busy finding ways to remember the family of four.

Two memorial services are planned today at Victory Outreach Center and Iglesia Mi Casa de Oración. A visitation, rosary and nondenominational service will be held Monday.

Members of Skyline High School's League of United Latin American Citizens Youth Council plan to help the family with funeral expenses and to make a donation to a memorial scholarship being established in the name of Jesus Jr., who was a member of the student group.

"This is how they want to remember him," said Ray De los Santos of LULAC's National Education Service. "He was such a vital part of the council. He was the one who made everyone laugh. He was there for them, and now they want to be there for him."