2 accused in McAllen teen’s shooting death to be arraigned

Two teenagers accused of shooting and killing a 15-year-old in the head are set to be arraigned next week, according to court documents.

Hiram Zuniga, 17, and Angel Manuel Gonzalez, 19, are both charged with manslaughter for the death of 15-year-old Kevin Martinez of McAllen.

Individually, Zuniga is also charged with deadly conduct (discharge weapon) and tampering or fabricating physical evidence, while Gonzalez has the additional charge of aggravated assault with a weapon.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on June 24, 2024.

Angel Manuel Gonzalez and Hiram Zuniga

Police responded to the 4200 block of Zinnia Avenue in McAllen in reference to a 15-year-old who possibly shot himself, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Officers soon learned that five males gathered at the residence to play video games when the weapon was fired.

Gonzalez told detectives that he was visiting his 16-year-old friend who was with his 14-year-old brother and their 15-year-old cousin when Zuniga arrived at the residence in his black pickup truck.

Gonzalez met Zuniga outside and was inside his truck when Zuniga showed him a Glock 45, according to the affidavit.

Zuniga convinced Gonzalez to take the gun because it was tight around his waist, so Gonzalez placed the firearm inside the right pocket of his shorts.

Once they were back inside the residence, Gonzalez walked into his friend’s bedroom and “jokingly pointed the handgun towards his friend, and then heard a loud noise,” according to the affidavit.

“[Gonzalez] stated he noticed the victim had been shot with the firearm he was holding,” the affidavit said. “[Gonzalez] denied knowing the firearm was loaded and stated the victim had been shot on the head.”

Gonzalez then notified his friend’s mom and called 911 himself. He confronted Zuniga about the gun being loaded and punched him in the face, according to the affidavit.

Zuniga then fled in his truck and was later located in the 5600 block of Petal Street in Edinburg. Once detained, police weren’t able to locate the weapon on his person.

Zuniga initially told police that he had arrived when Martinez shot himself, but then said the victim was playing with the weapon when it accidentally discharged.

He eventually admitted to hiding the weapon by burying it at an abandoned house located next to his residence.

Gonzalez was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and taken into custody the following day and released on a $30,000 bond.

As for Zuniga, he was charged the following day with tampering with evidence and released on a $5,000 bond. He was rearrested July 6, 2024, for deadly conduct and released on July 11 on a $50,000 bond, according to jail records.

His obituary shows that Martinez died on July 4.

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