On Saturday, March 30, 2024 a 21st birthday celebration in Jacinto City, Texas, a suburb nearly 10 miles east of Houston, was marred by gunfire that resulted in the death of two men. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the fatalities and noted that about 50 guests were in attendance at the event, which featured a live band.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m. when an altercation reportedly led to shots being fired. The victims, identified as Candelario Gonzalez Jr., 22, and Christian Rangel, 30, were transported to local hospitals, where they were pronounced dead. The nature of the argument that precipitated the gunfire remains under investigation, with officials citing the possibility that it stemmed from a “petty verbal altercation.”
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, through a post on X, and Sergeant Michael Ritchie provided details of the incident. They indicated that law enforcement officials were working to find out whether the victims were party attendees or if they were bystanders caught in the crossfire.
No arrests have been made in connection to the shooting as of the latest reports. The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement officials gathering evidence and eyewitness accounts to piece together the events leading to the tragic outcome. Initial reports suggested a potential third casualty; however, this has yet to be confirmed by authorities.
The violence in Jacinto City was part of a larger pattern of incidents over the weekend in the Houston area. In a separate event in West Houston, a dispute over loud music at another birthday celebration led to gunfire, resulting in three injuries. This incident involved an altercation with a neighbor, who, after complaining about the noise, resorted to shooting and injuring three people. The victims in this second incident were reported to be in stable condition following the altercation.
