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On January 19, 2019, 13 year-old Gabriel Fernandez and his 15 year-old brother Nicholas visited a friend in Houston, Texas. Once arriving, their friend led them and two other teenagers to a shed on the property to look at a gun he had obtained. As he handled the gun, it discharged. The bullet struck Gabriel in the head, killing him on the spot.
The boy who found the gun was best friends with Gabriel. He says he did not know the gun was loaded because the detachable magazine had been removed. The single round that remained in the chamber was the one that killed Gabriel.
Authorities have yet to give any indication as to who owns the gun or how it was obtained. Gabriel is just one of at least six children in the Houston area who have died by gunfire in a period of three weeks.
Please contact Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and Harris County State’s Attorney Kim Ogg through the channels below and give them the following message, personalized to your liking:
I learned about the tragic shooting death of 13 year-old Gabriel Fernandez on January 19, 2019 and I am very upset that you have yet to identify the owner of the gun that killed him. Gabriel’s best friend, who was playing with the gun that day, did not buy it himself. Some adult made this firearm accessible (loaded, unsecured) and that person needs to be identified and charged with violating Texas’ Child Access Prevention law. I am so sick and tired of seeing negligent adults walk free after these “accidental” shootings, ensuring that they will continue to happen again, and again, and again. Charge the adult who owns this gun and send a strong message to others that negligence in storing firearms around children will NO LONGER BE TOLERATED, period. I will be watching your actions in this case very closely and following up.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo
Phone: (713) 884-3131
Email: public.affairs@houstonpolice.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Houstonpolice/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/houstonpolice
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg
Phone: (713) 274-5800
Email via webform: https://app.dao.hctx.net/contact/feedback
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Harris-County-District-Attorneys-Office-150891285427503/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarrisCountyDAO
Once you contacted Chief Bruegger and DA Ogg, fill out the three fields below and click the orange button to report taking action!