Santa Clara man charged with shooting child in the head

For release on February 22, 2024

CONTACT:
Barbara Cathcart
Deputy District Attorney
Homicide Unit
(408) 808-3776

Santa Clara man charged with shooting child in the head

A 24-year-old Santa Clara man has been charged with murder, after he fatally shot the 3-year-old son of his girlfriend in the head at close range.

Before he shot the child, Sergio Colin-Gomez was threatening his pregnant girlfriend, trying to force her to confess to infidelity, and telling her, “Don’t be stupid.”

Colin-Gomez will be arraigned today at 1:30 p.m. in Department 23 of the Hall of Justice in San Jose. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

“We are sickened and heartbroken at the senseless murder of Ivan,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “Nothing we achieve in court, no jury or judge, can make up for the lost life of this innocent child. We will sadly but steadfastly do our job to make sure this person will never harm another.”  

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Feb. 20, Ivan’s mother called 911 and reported that her boyfriend shot her baby. Santa Clara Police Department officers soon arrived in the area and contacted the suspect as he walked on the sidewalk of White Oak Lane. Colin-Gomez resisted arrest but was ultimately subdued and arrested.

Evidence shows that Ivan and his pregnant mother were watching television in the apartment on the 3000 block of Poinciana Avenue when the defendant came home at 10:00 p.m. After the little boy fell asleep, the suspect began to aggressively accuse the mother of infidelity.

Fearing for her safety, the mother went to her son’s room and locked the door. The suspect broke in, left, and came back holding a handgun.

As he aimed it within a foot of the child’s head, the mother reached for the weapon. The suspect fired the fatal shot then fled the apartment.

Colin-Gomez is also charged with Assault Upon a Child Under Age Eight Causing Death.

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