Carolina Flores Gomez, who was crowned Miss Teen Universe in Baja California in 2017, is believed to have been fatally shot on April 15. The Mexico City Prosecutor's Office is handling the case as an intentional homicide. At the time of the shooting, police believe Gomez had been at home with her spouse Alejandro Gomez and his mother, Erika Maria. The fatal shooting was not reported until April 16, and there were no reports of gunshots or foul play within the vicinity of the apartment complex, according to officials. It remains unclear why the incident was not reported until the following day, and authorities have not specified what prompted the delayed notification.
No arrests have been made in connection with Gomez's death as of Wednesday afternoon. Investigators are collecting items from the scene to forensically test, and authorities have reportedly focused their investigation on her mother-in-law, according to sources. The specific evidence against the mother-in-law has not been disclosed, and it is unknown what forensic evidence has been collected from the scene. The investigation is ongoing, with officials working to piece together the events leading to the shooting.
No crime against a woman should go unpunished.
Baja California governor Marina del Pilar Avila said the investigation into Gomez's death was a foremost priority. State prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez said there has been close communication between officials to prioritize the probe. The case has drawn significant attention from authorities, who are working to determine who shot Carolina Flores Gomez. Officials have emphasized their commitment to resolving the case swiftly and thoroughly.
Carolina Flores Gomez was born April 4, 1999 in Ensenada. Civil organizations are pushing prosecutors to reclassify the case as a femicide. It remains to be seen whether the case will be reclassified as a femicide, as advocates continue to call for such a designation in light of the circumstances surrounding her death. The push for reclassification reflects broader concerns about gender-based violence in the region.
Our thoughts are with her family during this devastating time.