In the late summer of 2026, the life of 22-year-old Destiney Marie Gonzalez was tragically cut short. On the morning of August 30th, she was at a house party in a vacation rental in Boise's West Bench neighborhood. Shortly before 6 a.m., a vehicle, described as a sedan, drove past the residence, and an occupant fired multiple shots into the home where the party was taking place. Gonzalez was struck by the gunfire on the front porch of the house. First responders, including Boise Police and Fire crews, as well as Ada County Paramedics, arrived to find a chaotic scene with numerous people inside the home. Despite life-saving measures, Destiney Gonzalez succumbed to her injuries at the scene. The Ada County Coroner's Office later confirmed her cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest and ruled it a homicide.
The investigation into the drive-by shooting began immediately, with Boise Police Violent Crimes detectives taking the lead. It was quickly determined that Gonzalez was not the intended target of the attack. Investigators believed that the shooter or shooters were likely targeting the party itself or one or more of the other attendees. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood for witnesses and video footage and made a public plea for anyone who was at the party to come forward with information. They also reached out to rideshare drivers who may have been in the vicinity of West Clement Road between 2:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. on the morning of the shooting. Friends and family remembered Destiney as a kind and helpful person, a bright light in the lives of those who knew her. She had graduated with honors and was working as a caregiver for the elderly.
The investigation progressed swiftly, and within days, authorities announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the fatal shooting. An 18-year-old, identified as Ulissiz Macareno, and a 17-year-old male, who was not named because he is a juvenile, were taken into custody. Police stated that evidence indicated the 17-year-old was the one who fired the weapon during the drive-by shooting, while Macareno was the driver of the vehicle. The arrests brought a small measure of relief to a grieving community. Ulissiz Macareno was charged with murder one, aiding and abetting, and the 17-year-old suspect was charged with first-degree murder. The case against the two teenagers is now moving through the legal system, with the community awaiting justice for the senseless death of Destiney Gonzalez, an innocent victim caught in a violent act she had no part in.
