Madison Gonzalez : “Child shoots 4-year-old: Couple arrested”

PHARR, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A disturbing incident in Pharr has resulted in charges for a couple after a child found a handgun in a drawer and accidentally shot a 4-year-old girl. Armando Gonzalez and Madison Gonzalez have been arrested by the Pharr Police Department on charges related to the incident, as per jail records.

The tragic event unfolded on May 30 at an apartment on the 3600 block of South Embassy Avenue, according to a probable cause affidavit. The child’s mother, who was babysitting her daughter along with her son and grandson, heard a noise similar to a firecracker while cleaning downstairs. Rushing upstairs, she discovered her 4-year-old daughter with a gunshot wound to her hand and a gun in the drawer.

Investigations revealed that the child’s brother had found the gun in the drawer, leading to the accidental discharge. Madison Gonzalez, who was out of town at the time, claimed she was unaware of the firearm’s presence in the apartment. Further inquiries revealed that her boyfriend, Armando Gonzalez, had left the gun in the apartment.

Authorities executed a search warrant the following day, uncovering ammunition, magazines, two handguns, and a black digital camera at the premises. The camera contained images of Madison posing with a handgun resembling the one involved in the shooting, with the background matching the bedroom where the incident occurred.

Madison Gonzalez was booked into the Hidalgo County Jail on June 11 and released on a $1,000 bond the next day. Armando Gonzalez was arrested on June 17 and released on a $15,000 bond. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of firearm safety and the need to keep such weapons out of reach of children to prevent tragic accidents.