Angela Hernandez, 24, died on December 4, 2016, after being struck in the torso by a handgun that discharged while she and friends were returning from a hike in the hills of the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles. Friends on the outing included 20-year-old Heriberto Gonzalez and two others; Gonzalez had brought the gun to test-fire during the hike. Angela was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center but succumbed to her injuries.

The LAPD opened an investigation and Gonzalez was initially arrested on suspicion of murder. He was later charged with involuntary manslaughter and other felony counts including discharge of a firearm with gross negligence; he pleaded not guilty at arraignment. Bail was first set at $2 million and subsequently reduced to $35,000, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 19, 2016.

Angela’s family publicly questioned whether the shooting was truly accidental and stressed gun safety. Gonzalez’s family described the killing as a tragic accident and noted his mental disability. Does anyone have information about the hike, the weapon involved, or what happened just before the gun discharged?