SAN ANGELO, Texas — A quiet Friday evening in San Angelo turned into a nightmare for one local family and a community now grappling with the senseless loss of a young life. Jordan DeLaCruz, an 18-year-old resident of San Angelo, has been identified as the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred on February 6, 2026, at the Windmill Apartments.

The incident, which investigators have described as the tragic result of reckless behavior with a firearm, has led to the arrest of 19-year-old Norberto Gonzales, a friend of the victim, on charges of manslaughter. As the legal process begins, those who knew Jordan are left to mourn a young man who was just stepping into adulthood, his future stolen in a split second of carelessness.

Breaking: A Deadly Game

The tragedy unfolded shortly before 9:00 p.m. on Friday. At approximately 8:44 p.m., the San Angelo Police Department (SAPD) received emergency calls reporting a shooting in the 1900 block of Raney Street. Officers rushed to the Windmill Apartments, a complex located in the northern part of the city.

The Scene: Upon arrival, first responders found a chaotic and heartbreaking scene inside one of the units.

• The Victim: Officers located Jordan DeLaCruz inside the apartment, suffering from a single gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel rushed him to Shannon Medical Center, but the injury proved catastrophic. Despite the best efforts of the trauma team, Jordan was pronounced deceased by hospital staff shortly after arrival.

• The Suspect: Police encountered 19-year-old Norberto Gonzales at the scene. He was taken into custody without incident.

The Investigation: According to court documents and police statements released on Saturday, the shooting appears to have been the result of a “dangerous game” rather than a malicious attack.

• Reckless Handling: Detectives learned that Gonzales and DeLaCruz, who were friends, were handling a handgun inside the apartment.

• The Narrative: Court documents reveal that the two were allegedly “dry-firing” the weapon at one another—a practice where the trigger is pulled on an empty chamber. Gonzales reportedly told investigators he believed he had unloaded the gun by dropping the magazine. However, a round remained in the chamber. When he pulled the trigger, the weapon discharged, striking DeLaCruz.

• The Aftermath: A witness reported receiving a distressing video call from Gonzales shortly after the incident, in which he was visibly upset and showing the aftermath of the shooting.

Legal Consequences

Norberto Gonzales has been charged with Manslaughter, a second-degree felony in Texas.

• Booking: He was booked into the Tom Green County Jail in the early hours of Saturday morning.

• Bond: A judge has set his bond at $75,000.

• The Charge: The charge of manslaughter indicates that while there may not have been an intent to kill, the reckless action of pointing a firearm at another person and pulling the trigger caused the death.

Obituary: Remembering Jordan DeLaCruz

Jordan DeLaCruz was 18 years old. In the eyes of the law, he was an adult; to his family, he was likely still their child, just beginning to navigate the world on his own terms. “A Life Full of Promise”: While the headlines focus on the manner of his death, his community is focusing on the life he lived.

• The Friend: Jordan is remembered as a loyal friend, the kind of person who would spend a Friday night hanging out with his peers. The fact that he died in the company of a friend adds a layer of complex grief to the tragedy.

• The Potential: At 18, Jordan was at a crossroads of possibility. whether he was finishing school, working, or planning his next steps, he had a lifetime of “firsts” ahead of him—first real job, first apartment, perhaps a family of his own one day. That timeline has been brutally cut short.

Community Grief: The loss of a teenager strikes a particular chord in a community like San Angelo. “His passing serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly life can change,” the report notes. Families across the city are holding their children a little tighter this weekend, discussing the critical importance of gun safety, and mourning the loss of a boy who should still be here.

A Call for Awareness

This tragedy highlights the devastating consequences of firearm negligence. “Treat Every Gun as Loaded”: Local authorities and safety advocates are using this heartbreaking event to reiterate the golden rules of gun safety.

• Never point a firearm at anything you do not intend to destroy.

• Always assume a firearm is loaded, even if the magazine has been removed.

• “Dry-firing” at another person is never a game; it is a lethal risk.

Conclusion

Jordan DeLaCruz leaves behind a family that must now face a future with an empty chair at the table. He leaves behind friends who will carry the trauma of this loss for the rest of their lives. As the investigation continues and the court case proceeds, the true cost of this tragedy is not found in the jail booking logs, but in the silence of a home where an 18-year-old used to laugh.

We extend our deepest condolences to the parents, siblings, and extended family of Jordan DeLaCruz.

Rest in Peace, Jordan. Gone too soon, but never forgotten.

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Summary of Key Facts:

• Victim: Jordan DeLaCruz, 18.

• Date: Friday, February 6, 2026.

• Location: Windmill Apartments, 1900 block of Raney St, San Angelo, TX.

• Suspect: Norberto Gonzales, 19.

• Charge: Manslaughter ($75,000 Bond).

• Circumstances: Accidental discharge during reckless handling of a firearm.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in the coming days.