A five-year-old Hispanic boy, Elijo Eli Gonzalez, died on the evening of February 21, 2023, in Milwaukee after accidentally shooting himself at a home near 29th and National. Emergency responders took him to Children’s Wisconsin hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators found two loaded firearms left unsecured in the home. The child’s 35-year-old father, Jose Manuel Gonzalez, later told a relative, 58-year-old Bryan Jaensch, by text to watch the room because a gun was there. The complaint says Elijo found a .40-caliber pistol kept under his father’s pillow. Jaensch reportedly took the gun from Elijo once and placed it on a shelf, then about 20 minutes later the boy was seen with the gun again; Jaensch yelled at him to put it away, and moments later Elijo accidentally shot himself in the head. Jose Gonzalez pleaded guilty in October 2023 and was sentenced to six years in prison with four years of extended supervision; Jaensch’s case was still moving through the court process at that time.

If anyone knew Elijo or has information about what happened that night, please share what you know.