On October 29, 2022, 3-year-old Elijah Morales-Gozo fatally shot himself in the face with a loaded firearm in a hotel room on U.S. Highway 19 in Holiday, Pasco County, Florida. The child was at the hotel with his mother, Veronica Gozo, and her paramour, Zachary Johnson, whom she had met on social media approximately two weeks earlier. Johnson, a convicted felon recently released from prison after serving approximately 13 years for aggravated battery of a child, placed a loaded semi-automatic handgun on a shelf below the television in the hotel room. While Johnson was in the bathroom and the mother had her back turned unpacking, the toddler accessed the firearm and accidentally discharged it, striking himself in the head. The mother carried the child outside and attempted compressions while bystanders called 911. The child was transported to Advent Health North Pinellas, where he was pronounced deceased. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as gunshot wound of head and the manner as accident. Johnson was arrested and charged with culpable negligence, felon in possession of a firearm, and violation of probation. The mother was subsequently charged with culpable negligence in March 2023.
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?
The fatality report states: "The toddler sustained a single gunshot wound to the face" and the medical examiner determined "the cause of death was determined as gunshot wound of head and the manner as an accident." The news articles corroborate that the 3-year-old "fatally shot himself in the head" with the paramour's loaded firearm in a hotel room.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report's Child Protective Investigation findings explicitly verified "Inadequate Supervision" with the mother listed as the caregiver responsible. The child accessed a loaded firearm while the mother had her back turned unpacking and the paramour was in the bathroom. The fatality report states: "The mother reportedly had her back to the toddler, who was playing with his toys and moments later a gunshot was heard."
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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report states that in March 2023 "a warrant was issued for the mother's arrest, and she was subsequently charged with culpable negligence." The CPI findings verified "Environmental Hazards" against the mother/paramour and "Inadequate Supervision" against the mother. The mother was present and had seen the paramour place the firearm on the shelf, acknowledging "being aware her paramour wanted the firearm for protection."
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)?
The fatality report identifies Zachary Johnson as the "Mother's Paramour" and states he was "arrested and charged with culpable negligence, (being a) felon in possession of a firearm, and violation of probation." CPI findings verified "Death" with the paramour as caregiver responsible, and "Environmental Hazards" against mother/paramour. Johnson placed the loaded firearm within the child's reach.
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 states: "The mother was involved in three prior investigations between 2017 and 2022." It further details: "The first investigation involving Elijah occurred in 2019 and again alleged ongoing violence between the mother and her paramour." A 2020 investigation alleged "concerns that Elijah may have accidentally ingested one of the mother's blood pressure medications." These are clear prior child protection reports involving the same child.
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 fatality report states: "On October 30, 2022, the paramour was arrested and charged with culpable negligence, (being a) felon in possession of a firearm, and violation of probation. In March 2023 a warrant was issued for the mother's arrest, and she was subsequently charged with culpable negligence." Both adults were arrested and charged in connection with the child's death.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states: "The first investigation involving Elijah occurred in 2019 and again alleged ongoing violence between the mother and her paramour (father of both children); that investigation was closed with no findings of intimate partner violence threatens child." The word "ongoing" implies a pattern of violence between the mother and her then-paramour. Notably, the investigation closure specifically addressed whether the DV threatened the child, not whether DV itself existed. The word "again" further suggests prior allegations of violence in earlier investigations.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The fatality report states: "the incident occurred while the mother, the toddler, and her paramour were spending the weekend at a hotel." The news article specifies they "checked into a hotel on U.S. Highway 19 in Holiday." The death clearly occurred in a hotel room, which is a temporary shelter.
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 fatality report states: "in 2009 the paramour was arrested in Illinois on charges related to aggravated battery of a child; he served approximately 13 years in prison and was released in July 2022." This is clearly prior criminal history predating and separate from the current fatal incident. Additionally, he was on felony probation at the time of the death incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details not directly captured by the preceding questions include: (1) The fatality report states that "she and the paramour met on a social media platform approximately two weeks prior to the death incident," meaning the mother introduced a virtual stranger into her child's life. (2) The paramour's prior conviction was specifically for "aggravated battery of a child" and he had only been released from prison approximately three months before the death. (3) The fatality report notes a pattern: "this incident also occurred while the mother, the child and her paramour were spending a few days visiting a hotel" regarding the 2020 investigation, mirroring the circumstances of the fatal incident. (4) The paramour told law enforcement he "unintentionally brought the firearm with him to the hotel" but then decided to keep it accessible, despite knowing as a convicted felon he was not permitted to possess a firearm. (5) The mother was reportedly unaware of the paramour's arrest history.
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