Three-year-old Ivan Martinez-Alvarado was shot and killed in his crib early on February 20, 2024, at the Riley Square Apartments in Santa Clara, California. Ivan was sleeping in his bedroom at the apartment he shared with his mother and her boyfriend, 24-year-old Sergio Colin-Gomez, when the fatal shot struck his head at close range.

Ivan’s mother locked herself and her son in the bedroom; Colin-Gomez allegedly broke through the locked door, left briefly, returned with a firearm, aimed at Ivan and shot him despite the mother’s attempts to intervene. Colin-Gomez fled on foot but was arrested nearby after a brief struggle and later charged with murder and assault upon a child under eight causing death. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

A GoFundMe was started to help cover funeral expenses and support Ivan’s mother, who is expecting another child. The Santa Clara community has expressed deep sorrow over the killing.

If anyone has information about the shooting or knew Ivan and his family, please share what you know.