A woman who was more than eight months pregnant was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend right in front of their two young sons before he turned the gun on himself on Christmas Day.
William Bayles, 27, is in critical condition in a San Antonio hospital after the family of the victim, 24-year-old Gabriella Rodriguez, identified him as the shooter.
Rodriguez’s mother, Rosario Gutierrez Garcia, told WOAI-TV that her daughter was dropping off her two sons, ages 6 and 2, at Bayles’ home.
Garcia said that even though her daughter had broken up with Bayles a year ago to escape an abusive relationship, she was determined to continue to co-parent their two young sons.
‘I’m going to be honest it was a very tumultuous relationship,’ Garcia said.
Gabriella Rodriguez, 24, is seen second from left alongside her current boyfriend, Gian Garza (far right) and her two young boys, Matthew and Ricardo
Surveillance footage taken on Christmas Day outside the home of her ex-boyfriend, William Bayles, shows Rodriguez carrying one of her sons as she dropped off the boys at Bayles’ home. Moments later, she was shot dead
Rodriguez was shot dead by her ex-boyfriend William Bayles, who is also the father of their two young sons, according to her mother
The shooting took place on Christmas Day, when Rodriguez dropped off her two boys at Bayles’ home in San Antonio
‘Gabby tried many times to get away from William but she wanted to co-parent with him for the boys’ sake.’
Surveillance video shows the final moments of Rodriguez’s life.
She is seen carrying her two-year-old son in her arms and walking toward her ex-boyfriend’s home in the Candle Park section of San Antonio while her current boyfriend, Gian Garza, who is the father of her unborn child, waits in the car.
Moments later, Rodriguez is shot dead.
‘I pray for his mom and his family as well I don’t want to be negative and I’m just going to ask God to carry me through,’ Garcia said.
Rodriguez had just completed her certification to become a licensed beautician, according to her mother.
Rodriguez (right) was eight months pregnant with a girl. The father, Garza, is seen with Rodriguez on the left
The unborn child, whom the couple planned to name Emilia, did not survive the shooting
Rodriguez’s mother said her daughter had just received a certificate to be a licensed beautician and was planning to open up her own salon
Garcia said her daughter was looking forward to starting a new career with a new family.
‘My daughter was a very loving mother a beautiful daughter funny courageous and she was just a go-getter,’ she said.
The bereaved mother added: ‘We were together Christmas Eve.
‘We were going to have a baby shower for her this coming weekend, now I’m preparing to bury my daughter and take care of two little boys.’
Garcia said the two boys witnessed what happened to their mother. She said they will be receiving counseling.
Rodriguez’s aunt, Laura Salinas, started a fundraising campaign on Facebook asking the public for donations to help offset the cost of the funeral.
Rodriguez’s family has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for her funeral
As of Thursday, the campaign has raised more than $8,600. The goal of the fundraising effort to $20,000.
‘It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this,’ Salinas wrote on the page.
‘My niece Gabriella Rodriguez (Gabby) has passed away. She was murdered on December 25, 2019.
‘She was 33 weeks pregnant with her daughter Emilia. Gabby was taken by a senseless act of violence. Gabby was 24 years old.
‘She had a full life ahead of her. She was tanning and became an aesthetician and had dreams of owning her own salon.
‘Gabby was living life to the fullest and was extremely excited about becoming a mother to a baby girl, and having a wonderful life with Gian.
‘My beautiful intelligent niece was fun, loving, caring and my goodness was she was funny.
‘She got scared at every little thing and would be really dramatic about it and we would all would laugh.
‘My sister Rosario (her mother) was her best friend. She was a wonderful big sister to Carlos and JD.’
Rodriguez’s mother said that her daughter broke up with Bayles a year ago because he was abusive
Rosario Gutierrez Garcia said her daughter wanted to co-parent her two young sons with Bayles
Garza updated his profile picture on his Facebook page. It shows him posing with Rodriguez and her two young boys.
‘Forever in our hearts. Love is stronger than hate,’ he wrote.
In another social media post, Garza asked the public to donate to the crowdfunding effort.
‘Please in this time of need, consider donating to our family for Gabby, Emilia, Matthew and Ricardo,’ he wrote.
‘We are all eternally grateful for anything and everything provided.
‘Everyone’s love, thoughts, and prayers have helped immensely with dealing with this. There is strength in love, and we are strong.’
Bexar County court records indicate that Bayles had previous run-ins with the law. He has been cited for marijuana possession as well as with driving under the influence.
DailyMail.com left a message with Bayles’ lawyer.