Yusleidy Gonzalez

Yusleidy Gonzalez, a 38-year-old Hispanic woman, was celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family when her life was cut short. A friend of her boyfriend, Eric Van Uchelen, said Van Uchelen had been happy and was looking forward to the holidays just ten days before he was killed alongside Gonzalez.

The group had just finished their Thanksgiving dinner on the night of November 24, 2022, at Van Uchelen’s home in Houston’s Spring Branch area. Around 9:15 p.m., Gonzalez’s ex-husband, Yonetsy Montiel Granado, allegedly forced his way into the residence through a back door. He then opened fire inside the house, reportedly reloading his pistol at least once during the attack.

The shooting left Gonzalez and the 64-year-old homeowner, Van Uchelen, dead at the scene. A 15-year-old boy and a 32-year-old man were also shot and injured; both were transported to a hospital in stable condition. Gonzalez’s 4-year-old daughter was present during the incident but was not physically harmed. Child Protective Services took custody of the girl and placed her in foster care.

After the shooting, Granado fled. The following morning, he turned himself in to police in San Antonio. According to court documents, Granado told investigators that he “blacked out” and could not remember what happened before requesting an attorney. Police believe the shooting was an isolated domestic incident.

Granado, 38, was charged with two counts of capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault. He was transferred from Bexar County to Harris County to face the charges. During a court appearance in early December 2022, a judge set bond conditions that would require Granado to remain under house arrest with electronic monitoring if he were to be released. The conditions also prohibited him from possessing firearms, consuming alcohol, or contacting the victims' families. The case was proceeding through the court system as of December 2022.