vOn September 17, 2023, a tragic shooting occurred at a house party in the 12300 block of Tierra Inca Drive in Far East El Paso, Texas. The residence had been rented through Vrbo by high school students for a Montwood High School homecoming after-party. The gathering escalated into violence when multiple shots were fired into the crowd around 1 a.m., resulting in six individuals being shot.
Nineteen-year-old Eliel Omar Bultron Hernandez died at the scene, while 14-year-old Julia Worthington was critically injured and succumbed to her injuries on September 19, 2023.
Julia Gabrielle Worthington, born on November 7, 2008, was a student at Pebble Hills High School. She was known for her caring nature, love for family and pets, and her passion for music and photography, particularly of sunsets. Her untimely death deeply affected her family, friends, and the El Paso community. In a final act of generosity, Julia's organ donations saved seven lives, including those of two children.
The El Paso Police Department launched an intensive investigation into the shooting, identifying 18-year-old Angel Avila as a suspect. Avila, also known as "Chino," was arrested on November 16, 2023, by the U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and charged with capital murder of multiple persons. He is being held on a $2 million bond at the El Paso County Detention Facility.
Court documents revealed that the shooting stemmed from a feud between Avila and another individual, David "GG" Caldera. Avila allegedly believed Caldera had previously targeted him in a shooting incident. Upon encountering Caldera at the party, Avila reportedly initiated a confrontation that led to an exchange of gunfire. During the altercation, Worthington, Bultron Hernandez, and others were struck by stray bullets. The weapon used by Avila was identified as a "ghost gun," a firearm without serial numbers, making it untraceable.
The deaths of Julia Worthington and Eliel Omar Bultron Hernandez have underscored concerns about gun violence and the use of unregulated firearms among youth in the El Paso area. The community continues to mourn the loss of these young lives, while legal proceedings against Angel Avila are underway as of December 2024.
