On July 6, 2019, 5-year-old Alberto Rios Navarrette, a young boy from Winston-Salem, NC, tragically lost his life. Alberto, who was playing inside his family's apartment, was struck by a stray bullet that traveled through the apartment wall and hit him in the head. The incident occurred at the Cole Ridge Circle apartment complex around 5:20 p.m. Emergency Medical Service personnel transported Alberto to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Despite the medical team's efforts, Alberto succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was a result of a drive-by incident. Witnesses reported seeing a silver car occupied by several teenagers driving through the area and randomly firing handguns. Multiple rounds were fired, and several shell casings were found at the scene. The bullets struck not only the apartment where Alberto and his family were but also two other apartments and an unoccupied vehicle. Authorities determined that there was no evidence to suggest that Alberto's family was intentionally targeted.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Winston-Salem Police Department, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested four teenagers in connection with the incident. The suspects included 17-year-old Santiago Rodriguez-Marcial, who was apprehended in San Diego, California, and is currently awaiting extradition to North Carolina. Rodriguez-Marcial, along with 17-year-old Oscar Mendez-Rodriguez, and two unnamed juveniles aged 14 and 15, were charged with murder. The arrests were made after investigators located the car and a .38 caliber handgun at an apartment in Winston-Salem.
The tragic death of Alberto Rios Navarrette has left the community in shock and mourning. A vigil was held in his memory, where neighbors and family members gathered to honor his life and call for an end to such senseless violence. The investigation into the shooting continues, as authorities work to bring justice for Alberto and his family.
