In the spring of 2019, the life of 18-year-old Alexander Cota-Torres was cut tragically short in Phoenix, Arizona. On May 27, 2019, the young man was fatally wounded in what authorities have described as an accidental shooting. At the time of the incident, Cota-Torres was driving a pickup truck with two friends, Abran Herrera, 17, and Tomas Herrera, 19.
While they were driving, Abran Herrera was reportedly handling a handgun inside the vehicle.
The weapon discharged, and a bullet struck Cota-Torres. What followed was a series of decisions that would lead to criminal charges for his companions. Instead of immediately seeking medical help, they drove to the home of another friend, 18-year-old Jorge Quintero. There, the handgun involved in the shooting, along with a second firearm that Tomas Herrera had, were left in Quintero's bedroom.
After leaving the weapons, the group finally transported Cota-Torres to a local hospital. Tragically, his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. Phoenix police were called to the hospital to investigate the shooting. Their investigation led to the detention and eventual arrest of all three of Cota-Torres's companions.
Abran Herrera, the teenager who was handling the firearm when it discharged, was charged as an adult with one count of manslaughter. In his statements to the police, he initially claimed the gun went off accidentally as the truck was moving. However, he later admitted to pulling the trigger, believing the weapon was unloaded. Tomas Herrera and Jorge Quintero both faced charges of tampering with physical evidence for their roles in hiding the firearms.
