Nayanci Gonzalez, a 14-year-old sophomore at San Leandro High School, tragically lost her life on October 27, 2005, in a murder-suicide incident. Nayanci was walking to school when she was approached by 17-year-old Alejandro Fajardo, who had been her boyfriend. Fajardo, upset over Nayanci's decision to end their relationship, shot her five times in the back with a pump-action shotgun before taking his own life.
The incident occurred on a sidewalk near the school, shocking classmates and the community.
The relationship between Nayanci and Alejandro had been troubled, with Nayanci expressing her desire to end it. About two weeks before the incident, police had responded to a disturbance between the two, but Nayanci had declined to cooperate, insisting that everything was fine. Alejandro, who lived with his brother in Oakland, had no criminal history in Alameda County, and investigators were trying to determine how he obtained the shotgun used in the murder-suicide.
Nayanci's death left a profound impact on her family, friends, and the San Leandro community. A makeshift memorial of balloons, candles, and flowers was set up near the site of the shooting, with messages in both English and Spanish expressing grief and condolences. Nayanci had recently transferred to San Leandro High from Hayward due to academic challenges and had been trying out for the soccer team. Her parents had hoped the new environment would be better for her, and she seemed to be doing well before the tragic event.
The investigation into the murder-suicide revealed that Alejandro's parents lived in Mexico, and he had been living with his brother. The police were unable to locate his family for comments. The community mourned the loss of Nayanci, a young girl with a promising future, whose life was cut short by a senseless act of violence driven by unrequited love.
