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Pat Sullivan/AP
Gloria Carranza adds balloons to a makeshift memorial Thursday outside a trailer in Bay City, Texas, where a man shot dead four children and wounded their mother on Wednesday before killing himself.
BAY CITY, Texas -- Laura Gonzalez was happy to be back at work after three weeks away that included a stay at a battered women's shelter. She saw it as the beginning of a new life. One without her husband and the father of her four children, she told co-workers. She wasn't going back to him this time, she said, and left for home.
Less than an hour later, her 24-year-old husband, Jose Avila, launched a brutal final assault. First he shot his wife three times. Then, he began shooting the children. Avila's final act was to kill himself.
Two of the children died at a hospital Thursday, a day after their two siblings were killed in the shooting that rattled the small southeast Texas town of Bay City. Their mother remains hospitalized.
As details trickled out, a picture emerged Thursday of a family long struggling with violence, including an assault reported by Gonzalez just before Thanksgiving. After that, she went to a battered women's shelter.
"I asked her how she was doing because I knew she was at the crisis center. She said she was trying to make something of her freedom and a better life for herself and her children," said Alejandro Gonzalez, a fellow waiter at La Casona, the Mexican restaurant where Gonzalez worked.
"She wanted to make a better life for his kids because they see all the violence," he added, recounting the conversation he had with Gonzalez hours before Avila turned on her.
Although Gonzalez left the trailer home she shared with her husband after reporting the assault, Bay City Lt. Andrew Lewis said she refused to press charges. He didn't know how long she stayed at the shelter.
Wednesday's violence unfolded on a quiet street in Bay City — a town about 65 miles southwest of Houston — just as two nearby schools were letting out. The couple started arguing inside the trailer, and Avila shot his wife twice, Lewis said. She ran out to the front yard, where Avila shot her a third time. Then, he turned on the children.
"We heard ... that he was walking around waving a gun," Lewis said, describing the violent scene that unfolded on a lawn now decorated with a makeshift memorial of teddy bears, candles and prayer books. At least one student witnessed the incident.
Two brothers, aged 3 and 5, died of their wounds at a Houston hospital on Wednesday. The other two children, ages 2 and 4, had been on life support but died Thursday. Gonzalez is also at a Houston hospital, but Lewis did not know her condition.
Police have not officially released the names of the victims, but co-workers and neighbors identified Avila's wife as Laura Gonzalez.
The family had moved into the trailer home near Bay City's Western-style downtown about a year ago, neighbors said. They appeared to live a quiet life. On occasion, next-door neighbor Isuro Perez heard them arguing, but it appeared to be nothing out-of-the-ordinary. Just a run-of-the-mill dispute between a married couple.
"He always plays soccer out here in this field out here, plays soccer with his kids," Perez said, pointing to a grassy area opposite the row of trailer homes. "They were nice people, nothing went wrong really. They were a happy family."
At work, though, Gonzalez portrayed a different picture. Alejandro Gonzalez said he once saw her with a black eye. And Ruby Gomez, a waitress at La Casona, said Laura Gonzalez had told her about problems she had with her husband.
"She had to leave to get the kids in the afternoon because he threatened her that if she left him he was going to kill the four kids and her," Gomez said.
Once, Gomez said, Gonzalez told her Avila had locked her in the house and gone to work. She escaped through a window and went to a shelter, Gomez recounted. That was the second time she left him, and vowed not to go back.
The first time "he convinced her that he was going to change and that he really loved his kids, and convinced her to return to live with him," Gomez said.
Still, the tragic outcome of the relationship came as a shock to Gonzalez's co-workers and to other residents of Bay City — a town of just over 17,000 people surrounded by large ranches and farmland. The shooting was the talk of the town Thursday, as residents drove slowly past the couple's home.
Some stopped to add something to the growing memorial. Others cried. Several prayed.
"It's going to be sad for the momma when she wakes up and finds out she lost her children," said Gloria Carranza, a 41-year-old Bay City native who added pink and blue balloons to the memorial.
"Things like this don't happen in a small town like Bay City," she said.
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Leave a Comment:
1) Thing's like this happen on every street corner in America an around the world,2) When ever there is any suspicion of domestic violence talk with person and encourage them to get help. What a tragedy poor women to have wake up soon and find out she lost all her children,can't imagine sending her prayer's.
I feel so terrible for this women! Lord, please wrap her in your arms and give her the comfort she is going to need when she wakes up. I am sure her babies are in your care now, for whatever reason you have for her surviving, I pray you give her constant comfort.
Its a good thing he killed himself the coward. Before you feel the need to do this kind of evil, just do yourself FIRST, leave the innocent ones alive! Such a terrible terrible thing.
The time to ask for help was before he killed the children.
My greatest sympathy for Laura Gonzalez and her extended family during this tragedy.
I do agree with youareabully... I only wish Avila had ended his life before he did the damage he did. May he rot in whatever place dirtbags like he go to.
I feel sorry for this woman, but I have one question. Why did she go back to the house?
the husband is a sorry piece-of -@!$%#e !! how can you even shoot your kids?? its better that he climbs up a mountain and jumps off...but those kids?? she shoulda left him a long long time ago....
And this is the result of not using birth control. Four babies in a row that they could not afford, now dead.
Stop having babies until you can afford them. Stop having babies unless you are in a good relationship.
Life has enough problems with jobs, money, and infidelity, and it always seems to end up falling on the kids.
Exactly where does it say they were struggling so horribly financially??? Why bring such irresponsible, childish comments to this board when innocent children were murdered in cold blood?
RIP
There are many poor struggling families with young children in this country where murder would never be considered, no matter what.
In most of the horrific family murders, the woman has either just left or was in process of leaving an abusive spouse/boyfriend.
@Ines....If everyone waited until they could afford to have kids nobody would have kids.....But. I also agree that having children so close together is a raises a few eyebrows. Everyone that wants to have children should have the joy of having them around. My 4 kids kids are my life and I am by no means wealthy, in fact I am barely middle class.
i 1000% agree with you. i think the day after pill needs to be in every single public restroom across the nation.
What in the #$%& is going on???!!!!
Everything is broken and everyone has lost their minds
This world has got to be coming to an end with this kind of @!$%# going on- like every damned day!!
Why wasn't this guy in jail?
The system is broken. In a domestic assault case if the victim will not press charges no arrest will be made. The article stated she did not wish to press charges and instead went to the shelter. The question is why did she go back if she knew she wanted to end it? Sadly if she survives she will have to live with the consequences of that decision for the rest of her life.
Condolensces and prayers go to the victims' loved ones.
Those children are just the young victims.
I would like to know why the husband was not charged with Domestic Violence and taken to jail. I live in Georgia and if the Police are even called to a home regarding a fight or even an arguement; someone is going to jail no matter what. AND it doesn't even have to be a boyfriend/spouse. It could even be between brothers or sisters or any family member at all. Also it is not up to the person who called the police to decide NOT TO PRESS ANY CHARGES. I hope the mother recovers and finds love and peace in her life with family and friends.
Depends on your state. Many states, the police make the charges now. But, in a few it is still up to the victim and victims often are afraid to press charges. Sometimes it takes instances like this for people to realize they need to change the law. However, had there been charges, chances of him being out of jail within a day would have been high anyway.
My prayers are with this lady. Even if she recovers physically, there is no way she will recover emotionally from the loss of her children in such a tragic violent manner.
Come on! I am so sick of hearing these things! We need to hang signs "No, they wont change" on billboards everywhere. Something to make these people see that their kids are in danger, as well as them. Makes me want to cry.
RIP Little ones!!!!
The children are now flying with the angels and hopfully are now at peace. This is just getting so sickening when things like this is all you hear about anymore, we have to stop the violence and people have to stop hurting their children and loved ones.
What a horrible act by this idiot! First, he abuses his wife, whom he is supposed to love! Then when his poor wife gets fed up and gets out this moron decides to kill his four children, whom he is supposed to love nd shoots his wife three times, and oh yeah, he is supposed to love her! The this idiot shooots himself! Well, he did one good thing. The taxpayers won't have to pay for keeping this idiot locked up! My deepest sympathy to this wom,an and I pray that she can recover and get her life back together and be able to go on! It seems as though a lot of these men, and I use the term very loosely because a man that would beat a woman and kill his own children isn't a man at all! Any way, it seems that a lot of these males decide that the wife is a possession! That is absolutely stupid! A wife is a friend, lover, nurse and partner and many other things! But, no woman is a "possession"! Ladies, if you are living with someone like this, get the hell away from them! You don't need an "owner"! You should have a partner! Please, do not waste your time or your life with this type of man! It isn't worth it! Red
Not in the mexican border culture, lived there seen that. A married mexican woman must obey her husband, if not it is his responsibility to keep her in line and motivate her (beat) after all its not abuse, its for her own good. If a woman leaves then it is an insult to the machismo, if a man can not keep his woman then he is not a man. Thats the mindset, and its hard to fight, especially when the wife gets americanized and the man does not.
Everyday, it just seems to get worse. Condolences to the mother and any other family members that will miss the four little ones. I'll keep them all in my best thoughts, and prayers.
How awful. To think the last thing those poor children saw was their mother get shot and then their father coming for them/killing their siblings is just beyond comprehension. I just don't understand why the mother didn't press charges - especially after he threatened to kill her kids. That's something she will have to live with for the rest of her life. Although, he was determined to kill them and as long as guns are easy to get (legally and illegally), these things will continue to happen.
3, 2, 1...here come the gun lobbyists defending their right to bear arms. Gag me.
Nope, but I dare you to find a way to disarm everyone but the legally carrying gun owners in America. 3, 2, 1, NOPE~!
yea, its all the guns fault.
I just throw that dare at em, its impossible. If you cant beat em, join em, right? Im proud to say that I bring a gun to a gun fight.
I am curious about a lot of missing details in this case.......the wife is Gonzalez yet the husband is Avila??? Been there less than a year???? Texas has a state law where if police arrive on scene and show child in common/marriage/live in relationship and evidence of an assault took place they can make an arrest without a signed complaint. In abscence of these factors the victim must sign a complaint for an assault violation.
If the kids were theirs and they were married they woould have proof required. If the were in the country illegally they might not have this proof and might not share the same name because of the documents they are using???? A lot of things not right with this.
I would like to know more like WHY the officers did not make an arrest, why she refused to sign a complaint, why they have different names......
many married people have different last names.
Why couldn't he just shoot himself? He had to take four innocent children? Low life piece of trash. I hope he suffered in death.
How many more of these abusers is it going to take before we as a society DEMAND that they be charged and held till court date, with OR WITHOUT the pressing of charges by the frightened/battered spouse? Women and sometimes men who have been battered are living in FEAR and should not be counted on to make the right decision to get these potential killers off the streets. Too many lost battered spouses, and far far too many children are killed for lack of action.
The second such story in 4 days! ONLY IN AMERICA!
Another "well-regulated (?!) militia" man indulging in some target practice at home.
There seem to be two main arguments for American gun-ownership.
1) When you suffer an armed home invasion or a Columbine type attack, the cops are minutes not seconds away and
2) Only an armed populace can resist a government that wishes to impose a dictatorship.
The trouble with the first is that if you make it possible to arm the mad, the bad and the sad and flood the country with guns, you make it almost certain that any intruder in your home or school will be armed, therefore fulfilling the condition that made you want to be armed in the first place.
On the second, it is clear from Afghanistan and Libya that even a well-armed populace cannot stand up to the military without extra help. To be effective the armed populace (read right-wing militia) needs either to have:
(a) help from the military – this is called a coup in most countries
(b) someone outside to impose a no-fly zone – any suggestions for illiberal foreign governments who might be prepared to try to do this in the US?
(c) recourse to more than even the powerful weapons allowed in the US – just trot along to your local Walmart and pick up your suicide belt and SAM missile.
America is playing Russian roulette with its lax firearms laws and talk of "2nd amendment remedies" is a denial of democracy