Rosalinda Martinez, an 8-month-old Hispanic girl from San Antonio, Texas, was a beloved baby known for her bright, smiling presence. Born on July 25, 2022, she was affectionately called "Pumpkin" by her mother's family and "Railyn" by her paternal grandmother. Her family remembered her as a "smiling ray of sunshine" whose life was tragically cut short.
On the evening of April 12, 2023, Rosalinda was with her parents, 21-year-old Ruby Marie Mora and 20-year-old Alejandro Dominic Martinez,
at the Merida Apartments on Northeast Loop 410. The couple began arguing in the parking lot over a handgun that belonged to Mora. A family member who had been watching Rosalinda inside heard the argument escalate and brought the baby outside to Mora. As Martinez got into the driver's seat of his car, Mora stood by the open door, holding Rosalinda in one arm while reaching into the vehicle with her other hand to retrieve her gun from him.
A struggle over the firearm ensued, with both parents pulling the weapon back and forth. During the struggle, the gun discharged. The single bullet struck Mora in the hand and passed through to hit Rosalinda in the torso. A family member drove them to a nearby hospital, but Rosalinda succumbed to her injuries. Mora was treated for her wound and survived. Martinez fled the scene after the shooting.
The investigation led to the arrest of both parents. Ruby Mora was arrested on April 18, 2023. Alejandro Martinez was apprehended nearly a month later, on May 7, at a motel. At the time of the incident, Martinez was out on bond for a previous charge of assaulting a pregnant person and was under court order not to possess a firearm or have contact with Mora. Both parents were ultimately charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The legal proceedings concluded in November 2025. On November 7, 2025, the case against Ruby Mora was dismissed by the court. In a separate hearing that same month, Alejandro Martinez was sentenced to eight years of deferred adjudication. This sentence is a form of probation that does not include jail time; if he successfully completes the terms set by the court, the charge could be removed from his record.
