Court Document: Teen girl playing with stolen gun when suspect’s hand ‘accidentally’ fell on trigger

The El Paso Police Crimes Against Persons department has charged an 18-year-old man with criminal negligent homicide after a teen girl was shot to death after handling a gun in March, announced El Paso Police Tuesday.

Victory Lago was rebooked into the El Paso County Detention Center Tuesday and charged in connnection with the death of 16-year-old Gabriela Pitones under a $200,000 bond. Lago was originally arrested at the time because he had outstanding warrant related to a separate investigation.

On March 22 around 3:30 a.m., a complaint affidavit states officers were dispatched to 412 Hardy in reference to a suicide. It states officers arrived to find Pitones on the ground near a vehicle with a gunshot wound to her chest.

She was taken to a nearby hospital where she later died.

Police began to interview several people who were outside of the home, and that’s when they noticed Lago coming out of the residence.

All of the subjects were taken to EPPD headquarters for interviews. Documents state Lago gave a different account compared to the others.

On May 5, documents state detectives conducted a second interview with Lago. During the interview, Lago revealed more information.

He said he and Pitones stole a car from a residence on the 8200 block of Catalpa. Inside the car was a gun that Lago said he and Pitones stole, and identified the weapon as a 9mm.

The night of the shooting, documents state Lago told detectives he and Pitones were “chilling” in the vehicle parked outside of the home.

Lago reportedly said Pitones was playing with the gun when he tried to take it from her. That’s when he said his hand accidentally fell on the trigger and the gun went off.

Documents state someone at the residence hid the gun inside the home, which was later found inside a bedroom.

His mug shot is not available at this time as other charges are anticipated. Police said his mug shot will be released as soon as its release will not hinder other investigations.