In North Little Rock, Arkansas, a young woman's life was cut short in a tragic and violent incident. Stephanie Amaris Hernandez, a 21-year-old female, was found deceased in her home on Sunday, September 27, 2015. The discovery sent shockwaves through her community and left her family, including her two young daughters, grappling with an immense loss.
In the hours leading up to her death, a series of unsettling photos were shared on the social media platform Snapchat, showing Hernandez with her boyfriend, who was seen pointing a handgun at her.
Police were called to Hernandez's residence on the evening of her death, where they found a grim scene. Hernandez had sustained a fatal gunshot wound, and the home was in disarray, with blood on the floor. The investigation quickly pointed to her 20-year-old boyfriend, Rafael Gonzalez, as the primary suspect. According to accounts from a roommate, Gonzalez was seen crying and admitted to accidentally shooting Hernandez before he fled the scene. Friends and family described the couple's relationship as tumultuous and expressed that they had been worried about Hernandez's safety.
Following the incident, Rafael Gonzalez was apprehended by law enforcement. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder in connection with Stephanie Hernandez's death. Investigators found a pistol and ammunition near the home. It was also revealed that Gonzalez had a prior felony conviction, which legally prohibited him from possessing a firearm. A witness had reportedly seen him habitually playing with the gun, at times pointing it at Hernandez's head. Gonzalez was held at the Pulaski County Detention Center on a $1 million bond.
