Hanford police: Father allegedly shoots 10-year-old son in apparent murder-suicide
A father was found dead after allegedly shooting his 10-year-old son Monday morning in an apparent murder-suicide, Hanford police said.
The boy, identified during a police news conference as Wyland Gomes, died of his injuries at a Hanford hospital.
“The deceased decided to take his child’s own life and then his,” said Capt. Karl Anderson during a police news conference, “and it’s a horribly sad day for us.”
The boy’s father, Victor Gomes, 43, was found dead of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head at the scene of the shooting, reported about 7:21 a.m. on the 1000 block of West Cortner Street.
Anderson said police aren’t currently aware of a “triggering” event that prompted the shooting, which remains under investigation.
Police had been in contact with Victor Gomes in the past. The last contact they had was in 2018, “for a keep the peace for a child custody exchange.”
Prior to that, it was reported in 2016 that the man had suicidal thoughts and had a gun, Anderson said, which led to Wyland’s mother gaining full custody of her son. At that time, Victor Gomes had to turn over his gun to the Hanford Police Department, which still has that weapon, Anderson said.
The weapon used in Monday’s fatal shooting was a different firearm – a handgun Gomes purchased legally in 2017 after he was later allowed to have supervised visits with his son after going through a mental health process approved by the court, Anderson said.
Victor Gomes was living at his parents’ home – where the father and son were when the apparent murder-suicide occurred. Victor Gomes’ parents were at the home when the shooting occurred, Anderson said.
Anderson didn’t share where the father and son were shot, or how many shots were fired.
Wyland attends a local school, which is providing mental health staff for staff and students affected by the tragedy.
Wyland’s mother has also been notified of her son’s death, Anderson said.
“I can’t even begin to speak on the devastation,” Anderson said of her loss.
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 1:01 PM.
