In the early morning hours of November 15, 2022, the body of 19-year-old Breiner Daniel Puerta Gonzalez was discovered in the parking lot of the Northridge Plaza on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. A store owner who was closing his business around 1:30 a.m. found Gonzalez and alerted the authorities. An investigation by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office determined that the young man, a native of Bogota, Colombia, who was in the U.S.
on a work visa and employed at a local hotel, had died from a gunshot wound. At the time of the incident, it is believed he may have been riding his bicycle.
The investigation into the death of Breiner Daniel Puerta Gonzalez quickly turned into a homicide case. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses captured the moments leading up to the fatal shooting, showing Gonzalez in an encounter with two other men. A crucial piece of evidence came from Gonzalez's friend, who was on a video call with him when the confrontation began. The friend reported that Gonzalez was being robbed of his personal property before the call abruptly ended. Police believe the fatal encounter was a random act of violence, as there was no known connection between the victim and his assailants.
Within weeks of the shooting, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of two suspects. Nayquan Gadson, 20, was apprehended in Port Wentworth, Georgia, on December 9, 2022. He faced charges of murder, armed robbery, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The second suspect, 19-year-old Christopher Alexander Escobedo, was taken into custody and charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
In August 2025, Nayquan Gadson was convicted for the murder of Breiner Daniel Puerta Gonzalez. Prosecutors argued that Gadson shot and killed the teenager during a robbery attempt. A key witness during the trial was Gonzalez's girlfriend, who was on the video call with him when the fatal encounter occurred. The jury found Gadson guilty, and he was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Christopher Alexander Escobedo was also convicted for his role in the events.
