Jose Luis Gomez, a 23-year-old Hispanic male from Lubbock, Texas, tragically died on July 10, 2017. He was involved in a fatal shooting incident at Wagner Park in Lubbock. According to eyewitnesses, Gomez and Stephen Joseph Buckley Jr., 29, had an argument over possession of a backpack before Buckley shot Gomez multiple times. Despite efforts to perform CPR on Gomez, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Following the incident, Buckley fled the scene but was later arrested in
Levelland, Texas. He was charged with murder and held in the Lubbock County Detention Center on a $300,000 bond. During the investigation, it was revealed that Gomez and his brother had arranged to meet Buckley to purchase marijuana. However, Buckley claimed that he was the target of a robbery set up by Gomez and his brother. Despite this claim, prosecutors pursued a prison sentence due to the violent nature of the crime occurring in a public park.
In October 2019, Buckley accepted a plea deal for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and bodily injury, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence. The court's decision took into account the public safety concerns and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The case highlights the tragic consequences of disputes escalating into violence, especially in public spaces where families and children are present. The loss of Jose Luis Gomez at such a young age has left a lasting impact on his family and the community.
