Janil Gonzalez Died: A U.S. Army National Guard Soldier Who Was Killed by Her Abusive Husband

On January 10, 2024, a tragic incident shook the community of Fort Hood, Texas. Janil Gonzalez, a 33-year-old U.S. Army National Guard soldier, was killed by her husband, who then turned the gun on himself, in an apparent murder-suicide.

According to the Killeen Police Department, officers responded to a call of shots fired at a residence on the 2300 block of Zephyr Road around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday. When they arrived, they found Gonzalez and her husband, 36-year-old Hector Colon, dead from gunshot wounds.

Janil Gonzalez was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard, assigned to the 36th Infantry Division. She had served in the military for over 10 years, and had deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. She was also a mother of two children, aged 9 and 11, who were not at home at the time of the shooting.

Colon was a former U.S. Army soldier, who had been discharged in 2019. He had a history of domestic violence, and had been arrested several times for assaulting Janil. In 2020, he was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and sentenced to five years of probation. He was also ordered to stay away from Gonzalez and their children, and to complete a batterer intervention program.

However, according to Janil’s family and friends, Colon continued to harass and threaten her, even after she filed for divorce in 2021. They said that Gonzalez was afraid of him, and that he had stalked her and tried to sabotage her career. They also said that Gonzalez was a loving and caring person, who was devoted to her children and her service.

The Killeen Police Department is investigating the case as a murder-suicide, and has not released any further details. The U.S. Army National Guard has expressed its condolences to Janil Gonzalez’s family and friends, and has offered its support and assistance.

The incident has raised questions about the prevalence and prevention of domestic violence in the military community, and the challenges faced by victims and survivors. According to the Department of Defense, there were 7,825 reported cases of domestic abuse involving service members in fiscal year 2019, a 3% increase from the previous year. However, experts say that the actual number of cases may be much higher, as many victims do not report their abuse due to fear, shame, or lack of resources.

Some of the factors that may contribute to domestic violence in the military include stress, trauma, substance abuse, isolation, and cultural norms that discourage seeking help or reporting abuse. Some of the barriers that may prevent victims from escaping their abusers include financial dependence, legal complications, custody issues, and lack of support or protection.

To address these issues, the Department of Defense has implemented various policies and programs to prevent and respond to domestic violence, such as the Family Advocacy Program, the Military OneSource, and the Safe Helpline. These programs provide services such as counseling, advocacy, education, and crisis intervention to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, as well as their families and commanders.

However, some advocates and experts say that these programs are not enough, and that more needs to be done to protect and empower victims, and to hold perpetrators accountable. They call for more funding, training, awareness, and coordination among the military and civilian agencies that deal with domestic violence. They also urge victims and survivors to speak up and seek help, and to know that they are not alone.