Cristian Jesus Gonzalez was an 11-year-old Hispanic boy from Dallas, Texas, described by his family as a "funny hype little man" and the pride and joy of their home. He loved fast cars, video games, snacks, his dog Migo, and cheering for the Dallas Cowboys and the Rangers. Cristian shared his April 20th birthday with his mother and was known as a happy kid who loved going everywhere.
On the evening of May 5, 2022, Cristian was in his parents' kitchen on Fatima Avenue.
His older sister, Daniela, and her boyfriend were sitting at the kitchen table when Andre Sharp, the husband of another sibling, walked into the room. According to Daniela, Sharp, who was 30 years old, entered with a .38 revolver, pointed it at them, and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire on the first or second attempt. On the third try, the weapon discharged, and a bullet struck Cristian in the neck. He died from the injury.
Police responded to the home after the shooting. Sharp remained at the scene and handed the revolver over to the officers. He was arrested and initially charged with murder for Cristian’s death. He was released on bond after spending about a month in jail.
The murder charge against Sharp was later downgraded to manslaughter. Cristian’s family expressed deep frustration and anger with the reduced charge, stating their belief that the shooting was not an accident. "You knew there was a bullet in that revolver," his sister Daniela said. "You knew what you were doing." The family has been advocating for the maximum penalty, which for manslaughter is between two and 20 years in prison. In the months following his death, Cristian's bedroom remained untouched as a memorial, with drinks from his last day still in place.
Court documents later showed that Andre Sharp signed an agreement to plead guilty to the manslaughter charge and waive his right to a jury trial. The Gonzalez family, who had been hoping for a trial, learned of this development shortly before it was made public. As of April 2023, the family was waiting for a court date to see what Sharp’s punishment would be.
