Donna, Texas – A 21-year-old woman from Donna is facing serious legal consequences after allegedly shooting and killing her boyfriend with a handgun she believed was not loaded. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in rural Donna, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and emergency personnel.
According to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 3:08 p.m. to a residence located on the 13000 block of Hermosa Vida Drive following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered 20-year-old Damian Bazan suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Despite emergency efforts, Bazan was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly began piecing together the events leading up to the shooting. Family members present at the scene informed authorities that Miriam Valdez, Bazan’s girlfriend, had confessed to pulling the trigger. Valdez later confirmed this to investigators during questioning. According to the sheriff’s office, she admitted to handling the firearm, aiming it at Bazan, and pulling the trigger, believing the gun to be unloaded.
The situation escalated from a perceived moment of carelessness to a fatal incident. Valdez reportedly told authorities that she did not intend to harm her boyfriend and thought the gun posed no threat. However, her actions and the resulting death have led to a manslaughter charge — a second-degree felony under Texas law, which carries a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years if convicted.
An autopsy confirmed that Bazan’s cause of death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the head.
Following her arrest, Valdez was booked into the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center. She remains in custody as of Monday and was expected to have her bond set later in the afternoon.
This case has stirred the local community, highlighting the dangers of mishandling firearms, especially when presumed to be unloaded. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, but the tragic loss of a young life has already left a mark on the Donna area.
Sheriff’s officials remind the public of the critical importance of gun safety, stressing that every firearm should be treated as if it is loaded at all times. Tragedies like this, they say, are preventable with proper education, responsible ownership, and awareness.
More details are expected to emerge as the investigation proceeds and legal proceedings begin. Meanwhile, the community mourns the loss of Damian Bazan and grapples with the consequences of one irreversible decision.