Zaydrian Valdez

Zaydrian Valdez was a 14-year-old Hispanic boy from Lubbock, Texas. His mother described him as her "First love, my first son, my best friend," a boy who was "very loved by many." She shared that he had suffered from depression and anxiety. In the wake of his death, his family started a fundraiser to help lay him to rest.

In the early hours of December 3, 2023, Zaydrian was with five other teenagers who were driving around the city, burglarizing unlocked vehicles. At an apartment complex in the 3000 block of South Loop 289, the group stole two firearms from a car. Back in their own vehicle, they began passing one of the stolen guns around, taking pictures and videos. As they traveled near 82nd Street and U.S. Highway 87, 18-year-old Alyssa Gonzales was handling the weapon when it discharged. The bullet struck Zaydrian, fatally wounding him.

The group rushed Zaydrian to University Medical Center, where police were called around 2:15 a.m. for a report of a juvenile with a gunshot wound. Zaydrian was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Investigators learned that when the group got to the hospital, a 13-year-old boy in the group took the gun used in the shooting and threw it into a nearby field. Police later recovered the firearm.

The five teenagers who were with Zaydrian eventually turned themselves in to authorities. Alyssa Gonzales, who admitted to investigators that she fired the shot, was charged with criminally negligent homicide and engaging in organized criminal activity. Dehvin Garcia, 17, faced charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and using or exhibiting a deadly weapon. Angelina Estrada, 17, was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. A 16-year-old male was charged with theft of a firearm and engaging in organized criminal activity, while a 13-year-old male was charged with theft of a firearm, engaging in organized criminal activity, and tampering with evidence.

Later in December 2023, a Lubbock County grand jury indicted Alyssa Gonzales for criminally negligent homicide and Dehvin Garcia for using a deadly weapon. Alyssa Gonzales subsequently pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide for Zaydrian's death.