Just before her 18th birthday, a STAR cheerleader met a tragic end when she was brutally murdered, her family devastated after locating her phone at the grisly crime scene.
The suspect, now in custody for the murder of Angelina Camillia Gonzales, was found after the teenager was discovered fatally stabbed at her ex-boyfriend’s residence, her family reported.
Gonzales, a high school athlete, had attended a cheerleading banquet before the suspect, an 18-year-old, picked her up from the event and took her to his residence in Azusa, California, approximately 25 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
Her family said they tracked her phone to find her at the ex’s house, according to Los Angeles ABC affiliate KABC-TV.
“When I got there, there was already crime scene tape up and forensics and all kinds of stuff,” Robert Caraballo, Gonzales’ stepdad, told the outlet.
“And I ran up to the officers like, ‘Hey, my daughter’s in there.
“‘My daughter is in there I’m trying to find her. She’s not home.’
“And that’s when they told me, ‘sit aside for a minute,'” he recalled the heartbreaking scene.
Cops responded to the blood-soaked scene at the Azusa home at around 10 pm on Friday, where they found Gonzales suffering from multiple stab wounds.
They rushed the teen to a nearby hospital, where she died from her wounds, the Azusa Police Department said.
Her ex-boyfriend was arrested less than a day after the fatal stabbing, officials said.
Cops aren’t identifying the suspect in custody as they prepare to present the case to the Los Angeles District Attorney, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department told The U.S. Sun.
Gonzales’ family warned the high schooler to stay away from her ex multiple times, Caraballo said.
However, her family said she had a good heart and saw the good in her ex.
“It’s unreal, like just the fact that you know, anyone could bring themselves to harm just such a sweet and loving, funny person,” the teen’s brother, Ruben Torres, told KABC.
Charges haven’t been filed against the suspect yet.
Family’s statement on GoFundMe
The family of teen cheerleader Angelina Camillia Gonzales shared a heartbreaking statement about the 17-year-old’s death.
Gonzales was stabbed to death at her ex-boyfriend’s house on December 20.
Her family is raising money for the teen’s funeral on GoFundMe.
Gonzales’ mom, Letitica Caraballo, shared the following message in the description of the fundraiser:
“On Friday December 20, 2024 my baby was taken from us,” Caraballo wrote.
“She was only 17 about to have her 18th birthday on January 7th.
“She had such a great future ahead of her. She had a heart of gold.
“She was my perfect gorgeous Angel baby. I don’t even have the words to say. I can’t even cope. I need her.
“Our family is devastated. We appreciate all the support and love. Thank you all.”
Source: GoFundMe
Gonzales’ family is left devastated without her ahead of the holidays and what would have been her 18th birthday on January 7.
“She was looking forward to that,” Caraballo said.
“She’s amazing. I’m broken right now, I’m not going to lie to you, because the little bit of time that I had with her…” he said before breaking into tears.
FAMILY LEFT DEVASTATED
Gonzales’ family started a GoFundMe page to raise money for her funeral.
“She had such a great future ahead of her,” Gonzales’ mom, Leticia Pimentel Carabello, wrote in the fundraiser’s description.
“She had a heart of gold. She was my perfect gorgeous Angel baby. I don’t even have the words to say.”
As of Monday afternoon, the fundraiser has raised over $12,000, over its goal of $10,000.
