North Carolina – In a tragic turn of events in North Carolina, a 16-year-old boy, identified as J. Gonzalez, is not expected to survive after being shot in the head and arm by a 20-year-old man, identified as Y. Ramos, during a sleepover at his own home. The man accused of pulling the trigger, Ramos, is a friend of the victim’s older brother, who reportedly brought two firearms into the house that night.
Ramos has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, and possession of a stolen firearm. He is currently being held in the county jail on a $100,000 secured bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for October 7. According to police and court documents, Ramos had a disturbing habit of pointing “unloaded” guns at people and pulling the trigger as a joke. That behavior had reportedly happened before with the same group of friends — but this time, the weapon was loaded. The firearm used in the shooting was later found at the scene. Authorities confirmed it had been reported stolen in a separate case earlier this year. The second weapon Ramos brought was taken from the scene when he fled but has since been recovered.
The incident unfolded around 3:41 a.m. on September 21 at the victim’s home. Gonzalez was at his home with his older brother and several friends, including Ramos. At some point during the night, while the older brother was playing video games, Gonzalez and his teenage brother were lying on a bed nearby. That’s when Ramos retrieved the silver handgun from a dresser, pointed it at Gonzalez, and, without warning, pulled the trigger. The bullet struck Gonzalez in the right temple and right upper arm.
Panic quickly followed. Ramos fled the scene in a red vehicle, reportedly taking the second gun with him. Meanwhile, the teenage brother dialed 911, and the older brother attempted to administer aid to Gonzalez while waiting for emergency responders. When officers from the police department arrived, they found Gonzalez gravely wounded. He was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The gun used in the shooting was left behind, and evidence at the scene — as well as witness testimony — led investigators directly to Ramos. They located the red vehicle parked outside his apartment and arrested him shortly after.
In the days following the shooting, Gonzalez’s family received the heartbreaking news: doctors said the injuries were too severe, and he was unlikely to survive. A GoFundMe set up to support the family has raised more than $8,600 and continues to grow as friends, relatives, and strangers alike rally around the devastated family. The fundraiser states Gonzalez “was a bright, kind, and loving young man with his whole future ahead of him. His life was taken far too soon, and the pain his family is experiencing is impossible to put into words.” This senseless act — committed in what should have been the safety of home, during a night of laughter and games — now leaves one teen fighting for his life and another facing the weight of criminal prosecution. The investigation remains active, as authorities continue to piece together how a sleepover among friends ended in irreversible tragedy.
