HOUSTON – In a second similar story, a Texas man is in custody on suspicion of shooting two family members, alleging that he believed they were using witchcraft against him.
According to authorities, Wilman Sandoval, 23, reportedly assaulted a 26-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy with a pistol in their Houston home on the afternoon of Sunday, January 14, 2024. The victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were promptly transported to the hospital. The man is described as being in “serious condition,” while the woman is in “very critical condition.”
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed in interviews that Sandoval suspected his family was placing a curse on him.
In a series of posts on X (formerly known as Twitter), Sheriff Gonzalez wrote on January 14, 2024, at 6:40 PM, that “units responded to a shooting at an apt complex, 7610 Fallbrook. An adult male allegedly shot two adult family members. Both wounded persons have been transported in critical condition. The alleged shooter is detained.” Sheriff Gonzalez posted a few hours later that “both victims are in fair condition and expected to survive. The alleged shooter, Wilman Sandoval (9-10-2000), has been arrested and charged with three counts of Aggravated Assault. The wounded included Wilman’s brother (17) and Wilman’s fiancée (26).”
Wilman Sandoval, 23 – January 2024 mug shot. Photo: HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Moments later the sheriff added, “It appears the suspect (Sandoval) was accusing both victims of committing witchcraft on him.”
On Sunday night during a press conference, Gonzalez re-stated that his investigators were working on the assumption that “the presumed shooter may have believed that his family members were practicing some form of witchcraft against him, and he was distressed by it.”
When questioned by reporters about additional emergency calls originating from the Houston apartment, Gonzalez mentioned that his deputies were looking into whether there were any pre-existing issues. At around 4 p.m. on Sunday, deputies attended to a 911 call reporting a shooting at the Houston apartment complex, as stated by Gonzalez during the press conference after Sandoval’s 7 p.m. arrest.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez [via HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE]
Gonzalez also mentioned that five family members lived in the apartment together. Investigators have retrieved the gun and are conducting a search of the apartment complex for potential witnesses to the shooting.
Though some details remain unclear, court documents have now noted that Sandoval “got up off the couch” and walked toward the front door and kitchen then “began firing a black handgun” at his family.
In the early investigation documents and statements (as quoted above) misidentified and misspelled names causing confusion about Sandoval’s relationship to the two victims: Heidi Vázquez and Christian Vázquez. (Heidi Vázquez was initially identified by the sheriff’s office as Sandoval’s fiancée while the Harris County District Attorney’s Office identified her as Sandoval’s sister-in-law.).
Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the names of the two victims and their relationship to Sandoval. Heidi Vázquez is Sandoval’s sister-in-law, and Christian Vázquez is his sister-in-law’s brother.
Sandoval purportedly directed the gun at Heidi Vázquez first, hitting her six times, before aiming at her brother, Christian Vázquez. Allegedly, he fired twice, hitting him once in the head, as stated in a narrative presented by prosecutors in a motion filed last Monday seeking bail. Reports also mention that Sandoval “pointed the gun at” another family member “but did not fire.”
Despite the Sheriff’s comments, Senior Deputy Thomas M. Gilliland of the Harris County Sheriff’s office said that the motive for the shooting remains “unknown.”
The Harris County District Attorney’s office also said that prosecutors have “no details about a motive.”
Investigators are reviewing the defendant’s history for mental health issues though none has yet been reported. Initial reports also said that Sandoval has no previous criminal record.
During Sandoval‘s probable cause hearing, a bond of $250,000 was set. Sandoval is charged with three felony counts of aggravated assault. The last update available on the victims is that they are still recovering.
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