Gabriela Pitones, a 16-year-old female student at Burges High School and a member of the wrestling team, tragically died on March 22, 2017, in El Paso, Texas. She was shot in the chest while handling a stolen handgun with another teenager, 18-year-old Victory Uitime Lago. According to Lago's account, the gun accidentally discharged when he tried to take it from Pitones, striking her in the chest.
Pitones was taken to University Medical Center of El Paso, where she was pronounced dead.
Following the incident, El Paso Police initially did not consider Pitones' death a homicide. However, after further investigation, they charged Lago with Criminal Negligent Homicide. Lago was already in custody on an unrelated aggravated robbery charge at the time of the shooting. He was re-booked on the additional charges and held on a $200,000 bond.
The case drew significant attention, with Gabriela's mother, Denise Ochoa, speaking out about the circumstances of her daughter's death. Ochoa expressed frustration over the lack of timely information from law enforcement and raised questions about the events leading up to the shooting. Despite the charges, Lago's booking photo was not released, and police indicated that further charges could be forthcoming.
Gabriela Pitones' death was the 14th murder in El Paso for the year 2017. Her story serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers associated with firearms and the importance of responsible gun handling.
