Teen Arrested for Murder and Assault After Fatal Shooting of Father in Douglas

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested 17-year-old Miguel Gonzalez of Douglas, GA, on December 11, 2024, charging him with Aggravated Assault, Felony Murder, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime.

The incident occurred on the morning of December 10, 2024, around 2:00 a.m., when Coffee County deputies responded to a 911 call from the 100 block of Park Place Road in Douglas. Upon arrival, deputies found Miguel at the scene, where he had fatally shot his 45-year-old father, Israel Rivera Cruz, during a struggle over a firearm. Miguel’s mother, 31-year-old Jasmine Gonzalez, was also injured in the incident and later treated at a hospital.

The investigation revealed that the shooting followed an argument between Israel and Jasmine. After the struggle over the weapon, Miguel regained control and shot his father multiple times, killing him.

Miguel was taken into custody and remains at the Coffee County Jail. Israel’s body was transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.

The investigation is ongoing, and the case will be forwarded to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Douglas at (912) 389-4103, or the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 384-4227. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.