Eight-month-old Rosalinda Martinez died on April 12, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas, from a gunshot wound to the torso sustained during a domestic violence incident between her parents. Her mother, Ruby Mora (21), and father, Alejandro Martinez (20), were arguing in the parking lot of the Merida Apartments over a handgun that Mora claimed was hers. A family member who had been watching Rosalinda inside the apartment brought the baby outside when the arguing escalated, and Mora took the child. While holding Rosalinda in her right arm, Mora approached Martinez in his car and attempted to pull the handgun away from him with her left hand. The gun discharged during the struggle, striking the baby in the torso and Mora in the hand. Rosalinda was taken to Northeast Baptist Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The family had been the subject of an open Child Protective Investigations case since December 2022, with three separate intakes alleging domestic violence. Both parents were charged with felony injury to a child.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Both documents explicitly describe a firearm incident. The fatality report states that "Rosalinda's parents engaged in domestic violence involving a gun and Rosalinda was accidentally shot. Rosalinda died on April 12, 2023, from a gunshot wound." The news article details that "Mora and Martinez were arguing Wednesday afternoon over a gun when it went off and struck Mora in the hand and 8-month-old Rosalinda Martinez in the torso."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report states the investigation was initiated "alleging concerns of neglectful supervision by Rosalinda's parents as they engaged in domestic violence." Additionally, the news article describes the mother holding the 8-month-old while physically struggling over a firearm with the father: "Mora was reaching into the car with her left hand while holding Rosalinda with her right arm" and "the two were pulling the firearm back and forth." Holding the child during a violent struggle over a loaded weapon constitutes inappropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The news article identifies Alejandro Martinez, 20, as "the baby's father" and describes him as directly involved in the incident: "Mora and Martinez were arguing Wednesday afternoon over a gun when it went off and struck... 8-month-old Rosalinda Martinez in the torso." The fatality report also references "Rosalinda's parents" engaging in domestic violence involving a gun.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article identifies Ruby Mora, 21, as the mother who was holding Rosalinda while struggling over the firearm with the father. The article states: "Mora was reaching into the car with her left hand while holding Rosalinda with her right arm." She was arrested on a felony charge of injury to a child. The fatality report also references "Rosalinda's parents" engaging in domestic violence involving a gun.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report explicitly documents a history of prior child protection reports: "The investigation was initiated on December 1, 2022, alleging concerns of neglectful supervision by Rosalinda's parents as they engaged in domestic violence. A second intake was received on February 13, 2023, also alleging domestic violence." Both of these intakes predated the fatal incident on April 12, 2023.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The news article states: "Ruby Mora, 21, was arrested Monday on a felony charge of injury to a child. Her bond is set at $100,000." It also states the father, Alejandro Martinez, is "facing also facing a felony charge of injury to a child, serious bodily injury."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Both documents explicitly reference domestic violence. The fatality report states the investigation was initiated "alleging concerns of neglectful supervision by Rosalinda's parents as they engaged in domestic violence" and that subsequent intakes also alleged domestic violence. The news article describes the parents "arguing Wednesday afternoon over a gun when it went off." Additionally, the news article notes that "at the time of the incident, Martinez was out on bond following a February arrest for the assault of a pregnant person."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The news article states: "Court records show that at the time of the incident, Martinez was out on bond following a February arrest for the assault of a pregnant person and unlawfully carrying a gun." This February arrest predates and is separate from the fatal incident on April 12, 2023.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The fatality report reveals that DFPS had an open Child Protective Investigations (CPI) case at the time of the fatal incident, with three separate intakes over roughly four months (December 2022, February 2023, and April 2023) all alleging domestic violence. The child died during the open investigation, suggesting potential systemic failures in the child welfare system's response to repeated domestic violence reports. Additionally, the news article notes that the father, Alejandro Martinez, "was out on bond following a February arrest for the assault of a pregnant person and unlawfully carrying a gun" at the time of the incident, indicating failures across both the child welfare and criminal justice systems to protect the child from a known violent offender with firearm-related charges.
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