LANCASTER – An 18-year-old Lancaster man accused of fatally shooting his 13-year-old sister was charged Friday with involuntary manslaughter and discharge of firearm with gross negligence.
The case against Eddie Marcelino Alvirez also includes allegations of personal use of a handgun and inflicting great bodily injury, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Alvirez was scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon in Lancaster, but his arraignment was postponed to Aug. 30, according to LADA Public Information Officer Ricardo Santiago. Prosecutors asked that bail be set at $75,000.
The shooting was reported around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, in the bedroom of a home in the 1700 block of West Avenue J-15, where Alvirez was in a bedroom with his two sisters, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“Alvirez was in possession of a handgun that he pointed at one of his sisters and shot. He fled the location on foot with the handgun,” states a news release from the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Marlena Virginia Alvirez died at a hospital, coroner’s officials reported.
Alvirez turned himself in at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station the following day.
Sheriff’s officials said Alvirez is reportedly a gang member, but the teen’s mom disputed the allegation.
In a Facebook post, Marlena Diaz Alvirez said her son is not a gang member and the shooting was an accident. “He would never never hurt any of [his] sisters, he loved them so much…” she wrote.
If convicted as charged, Alvirez faces up to 14 years in prison.
Previous related stories:
Brother surrenders in sister’s killing
Girl shot to death in Lancaster, brother sought
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Gowchong says
I am a gun owner. I have always owned a gun. My children are now adults with kids of their own. They all own guns. One thing I hammered into my kids’ collective skulls was gun safety. I have to ask, “why did this teen have a gun?” It was probably an illegal gun. It was certainly not locked up like CA law demands. It should never have been in the unsupervised hands of a minor.
The supervising parent should be charged with manslaughter for not properly securing a firearm and for not keeping it out of the hands of an inexperienced minor.
Again, I reiterate, my children grew up knowing how to properly, safely handle firearmes. Now their children are learning how to properly, safely handle firearmes. And I NEVER allowed them hot even look at a firearm unless I was carefully supervising.
Layla says
His mother is trying to cover her son’s crime by saying he’s not a gang member and he loved his sister well if he loved her so much why would he even think about pointing a gun at her? She needs to stop being stupid and defending the monster she raised and I don’t think u point a gun at someone by accident.
Lancasterr says
If it was an accident or if he really cared about his sister he would not had run away unless he’s just a weird coward who panicks when his family is dying because he fears going to jail. Want to be a thug they got a place for you in a cell. I send my condolences to the 13 year old. The 18 year old brother needs to be locked up longer than 14 years.
So sad... says
Why did he have a gun? Why was he pointing it at his sister.?why did he run? I also believe he was a gang member,and I also believe some of his family is(yes I checked out the family photos!on face book….)those tattoo his family has are gang tats… however this is why people should be more vigilant,as to what there kids have, check there room, go threw there crap…
This poor mom, has got to be losing her mind,she lost her daughter, and her son…it’s all so tragic… my heart hurts for this senseless crime… may she Rest In Peace and and may the boy… get some help! Prayers to all involved….
ForCommonGood says
So sad for the entire family. We hear of kids accidentally shooting sibling fairly frequently. If the boy accidentally killed his sister then panicked and ran, it will be hard to prove. And, there is always the question in shootings, “Why did he have a gun and where did he get it?”
In any case, he must live with the pain of having killed a sister he loved.
Plain idiot says
Set for your 13 year old with the rest of the family I couldn’t give a hoot I told you how much you take care of your kids why does your son have a gun at 18 years old
ForCommonGood says
So sad for the entire family. If it is true that it was an accident and he panicked and ran away it will be hard to prove.
Trumptard says
The original article here on av times highlighted the race of the family about 5 times, you pull up the same article in the LA times and not once was it mentioned the family was hispanic. This kid doesn’t look like he’s from a gang! Lets not get started with all these white kids and these mass shootings.
Lancasterr says
You must live on an island somewhere. They have gang members now days who wear skinny jeans and ride skateboards what are you talking about? I grew up in an 18st neighborhood back in the day and yeah he looks like a weak gang member aka follower. A 18 year old man sharing a room with his little sisters playing with a gun and shooting them, yeah sounds like a low life gang member to me
Guilty says
The defense attorney will claim that Eddie is mentally ill.
Oyuki says
He is mentally ill who in their right mind would shoot and kill their sister. He is a disgusting pos.
Alby says
Whos gun was it? was it in grammas purse? If this was a freak accidental negligent moment, this kid could end up being one of the best advocates for gun safety. He could even run for vice president.
Stacey says
Fight it
18 year old idiots that should have known better says
18 years old with a handgun shoots his sister lock him up
Grammar police says
Punctuation Marlena, PUNCTUATION!!
Dauntless says
He must have some type of mental disability. Why would he even point a gun towards his sister in the first place? Obviously, he wasn’t taught anything about gun etiquette!