On June 22, 2024, 21-year-old Alicia Irene Elias was tragically killed in a murder-suicide incident in Wichita Falls, Texas. Born on August 31, 2002, in Montclair, California, Alicia was a loving mother, daughter, sister, niece, and friend, known for her vibrant spirit and deep affection for her son.
The incident occurred in the early hours at Highpoint Village Apartments on Professional Drive.
Witnesses reported that Alicia and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Abelino Gonzales Jr., were engaged in a heated argument in the parking lot. The confrontation escalated when Gonzales fatally shot Alicia before turning the gun on himself. First responders found Alicia deceased at the scene, while Gonzales was transported to United Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Further investigation revealed that Alicia was pregnant at the time of her death. This led authorities to classify the death of her unborn child as a separate homicide, bringing Wichita Falls' 2024 murder count to seven.
Gonzales had a documented history of violent behavior. In 2019, at the age of 17, he was arrested for a brutal assault on a 15-year-old girl who attempted to protect her sister from him. Witnesses recounted that Gonzales punched the girl, causing her to fall and hit her head, and then proceeded to stomp on her face, resulting in significant injuries. In May 2022, he pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor assault charge and was sentenced to 184 days in jail, with credit for time served.
In the wake of Alicia's tragic death, her family sought support through a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses. They remembered her as a joyful individual who cherished her role as a mother and expressed deep sorrow over the sudden loss.
Alicia's funeral service was held on July 9, 2024, at Owens and Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls, where family and friends gathered to honor her memory and mourn the loss of both her and her unborn child.
