Juan Borja, a 13-year-old Hispanic boy from Freeport, Texas, tragically died on April 19, 2017, from a gunshot wound while at Peppermint Park. The incident occurred when Borja and a group of friends were hanging out at the park, and Borja allegedly pulled out a gun, loaded a round of ammunition, and made a comment about playing Russian roulette. A 14-year-old suspect, who was later arrested and charged with manslaughter and tampering with evidence, pointed the gun at Borja and fired it once,
hitting him in the chest.
Following the incident, Freeport police arrested three additional suspects in connection with Borja's death. Leslie Jaime, 35, and two juveniles, ages 13 and 14, were charged with multiple counts of burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm. The suspects had stolen several firearms, including the one used in the shooting, from a trailer home being used as a storage facility in the City of Jones Creek. Authorities recovered 14 of the stolen firearms, but believe more are still missing.
The case drew significant attention and led to multiple arrests and charges. The 14-year-old suspect was charged with manslaughter and tampering with evidence, while Jaime faced charges of burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm. The two juveniles were charged with burglary. The investigation revealed that Jaime and the juveniles had broken into the storage facility to steal the firearms, and Jaime was later found to have a prior criminal record for possession of a controlled substance.
The tragic death of Juan Borja deeply affected the community, and the Brazosport Independent School District provided counseling services for students and staff members impacted by the loss. The case highlighted the dangers of firearms and the devastating consequences of their misuse.
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