A high school party in Corpus Christi, tied to the Veterans Memorial High School cheerleading squad, ended in violence when 19-year-old John Michael “Johnny Boy” Gomez Jr. and 16-year-old Jaden Lopez were shot, with Gomez still in critical condition.
According to Johnny’s mother, Launa Garza, the gathering held at a rented home on Beauvais Drive in the King’s Crossing neighborhood was thrown by the parents of a Veterans Memorial cheerleader, Robert and Misty Perez.
Similarly, the witnesses stated that alcohol was freely available to underage attendees throughout the night, allegedly purchased and brought in by adults.
One of the attendees is a CCISD elementary school teacher, Roland Hernandez, who is now cited for providing alcohol to minors.
Report states that the victim, Johnny Gomez, who reportedly came only to pick up his intoxicated 15-year-old cousin, but while wearing a $5,000 gold chain he had earned from his HVAC job, was confronted outside by three teens, one armed with a gun, who demanded the chain.
When Gomez tried to run, he was fatally shot five times, two bullets striking his back, another passing through multiple organs, and one lodging in his groin. At the same time, the other victim, Jaden Lopez, was hit in the ankle, requiring surgery.
A 16-year-old suspect was later arrested in Victoria and charged with attempted robbery and aggravated assault. However, Gomez’s family is calling for attempted murder charges and for the teen to be tried as an adult.
Allegations have also emerged that a Veterans Memorial cheer coach, Tatum Hagen, instructed students to delete evidence from their phones, sparking community outrage.
Both Victims’ Families Have Launched Fundraisers For Medical Costs
Both John Michael “Johnny Boy” Gomez Jr.’s and Jaden Lopez’s families have created a GoFundMe page to cover the unexpected medical expenses.
Although Lopez was released from the hospital on Monday, August 4, 2025, after undergoing surgery to remove a bullet and is now healing, Johnny Boy remains in the ICU.
Gomez’s mother, Launa Garza, has vowed to seek accountability from CCISD leadership, saying:
“While we wait for CCPD to hopefully arrest and indict the house party throwers and find the shooters, the families of these two young men need all the help they can get. I hope the home owners find out what their tenants have done to their house and the neighborhood and evict them.”
GoFundMe
Similarly, TFW Construction, where Johnny Gomez Jr. worked, hosted a barbecue benefit fundraiser on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at TFW’s main office, located at 6654 Leopard Street.
Smoked chicken sausage with all the trimmings and a drink were sold for $15 a plate. Similarly, the fundraiser whose goal is to collect $5.5k has been able to raise $3,821 to date.
The whole Corpus Christi, Texas, community is praying for Johnny’s fast recovery and helping the family during this difficult time.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Johnny Gomez Jr.’s father, John Michael Gomez Sr., also works at TFW Construction.
- His mother, Launa Rene Graza, is a registered nurse who studied an associate’s degree in nursing at Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio.
