On April 10, 2024, 24-year-old Hector Pomales-Torres of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, tragically lost his life due to a gunshot wound sustained in his residence on the 700 block of Lehman Street. The incident occurred when his roommates, 20-year-old Mariam Saadoune and 25-year-old (or 26-year-old, as per some sources) Guillen Fabian-Garcia, were handling a firearm inside the home. Believing the gun was unloaded, Saadoune pointed it at a closed door and pulled the trigger. The discharged bullet penetrated the door and struck Pomales-Torres in the abdomen. Fabian-Garcia immediately transported him to WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The subsequent investigation revealed that the firearm was legally purchased and owned by Fabian-Garcia. Prior to the shooting, he was instructing Saadoune on safe gun handling procedures. During this instruction, he permitted her to handle the firearm, eject the loaded magazine, and pull the trigger, unaware that a live round remained chambered. This negligent handling led to the fatal discharge.
Both Saadoune and Fabian-Garcia cooperated with law enforcement during the investigation and admitted their involvement in the events leading to Pomales-Torres's death. As a result, Saadoune was charged with involuntary manslaughter, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, and recklessly endangering another person. Her bail was set at $100,000. Fabian-Garcia faced a misdemeanor charge of recklessly endangering another person, with bail set at $20,000. Both were remanded to Lebanon County Correctional Facility, with preliminary hearings scheduled for May 2, 2024.
Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf emphasized that the charges reflect the negligent actions of the defendants, underscoring the critical importance of adhering to safe firearm handling practices. She stated, "The gross negligence of these Defendants combined to fire a bullet into their own occupied home and kill their friend. This ultimate consequence – the killing of Hector Pomales-Torres – is the one mistake that can never be undone." The tragic incident serves as a somber reminder of the potential consequences of improper firearm use and the vital need for responsible gun ownership.
