Schulenburg man dies from accidental gunshot wound after traffic stop

A 20-year-old Schulenburg man died Sunday, Jan. 14, after what appeared to be an accidental shooting preceding a traffic stop in Gonzales, according to a press release by the Gonzales Police Department.

At about 8:25 p.m. Sunday, GPD Sgt. Leopoldo Mendez observed a traffic violation and conducted a traffic stop on US Highway 183. Upon making contact with the driver and the passengers in the vehicle, it was discovered that one of the rear seat passengers — later identified as 20-year-old Alejandro Rangel of Schulenburg — had sustained a gunshot wound to his arm.

Additional officers were called to the scene and a tourniquet was placed on the victim’s arm. Gonzales EMS was dispatched to the scene and Rangel was transported by ambulance to Seton Hospital in Kyle, where he was pronounced dead from his injury. It was determined the preliminary cause of the shooting was an accidental weapon discharge.

The incident turned into an active investigation being conducted by Sgt. Investigator Victor Izaguirre. As Izaguirre and other officers were conducting their investigation, they recovered two firearms from the vehicle along with an undisclosed amount of narcotics.

Two adult males were arrested and transported to the Gonzales County Jail. One was charged with unlawful carrying of a firearm and the other for unlawful carrying of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

Three male juveniles were also detained and transported to a Juvenile Detention Center for unlawful carrying of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.