On July 18, 2014, Lanny Dean Gonzalez, a 44-year-old Hispanic male from Benavides, Texas, was fatally shot on Teague Lane in Calallen, Texas. Gonzalez, a lifelong resident of Benavides, had graduated from Benavides High School and Coastal Bend College. He was employed as a welder at Dixie Iron Works and was known as a devoted father, son, and brother who cherished time with his family.
Following the shooting, authorities identified 41-year-old Joseph Carrillo, a Hispanic male also from Benavides, as the primary suspect in Gonzalez's death. Carrillo fled the scene, heading westward. A deputy from the Duval County Sheriff's Department spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one seen leaving the murder scene. Upon noticing the deputy, Carrillo accelerated and turned onto family property. He released two young children from the house early in the morning; they were subsequently taken to the Sheriff's Department. A standoff ensued, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, and Texas Rangers. During the standoff, officials heard a single gunshot. A DPS helicopter later located Carrillo's body in the property's corrals, leading investigators to conclude that he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Gonzalez's untimely death left behind three children. The incident not only devastated his family but also deeply affected the Benavides community, where both Gonzalez and Carrillo were well-known residents. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and the community continues to mourn the loss of Gonzalez while grappling with the tragic circumstances surrounding his death.
