Man Convicted of Murder After Fatal Shooting at Norcross Baby Shower
A Gwinnett County jury has convicted 28-year-old Esteven Avila-Vega of multiple charges, including malice murder and felony murder, in connection with the April 2023 shooting death of 39-year-old Angel Mendoza-Ramirez at a baby shower in Norcross.
Avila-Vega was found guilty of:
- Malice murder
- Felony murder
- Aggravated assault
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
He will be sentenced at a later date.
The incident occurred on April 16, 2023, when Avila-Vega attended the baby shower with his wife and other family members. During the event, a relative accidentally shot himself in the leg. Mendoza-Ramirez took the gun from the injured relative and put it away to ensure the safety of children present.
According to trial evidence, Avila-Vega demanded the weapon back, leading to an argument with Mendoza-Ramirez. Avila-Vega then drew his own firearm and fired more than a dozen rounds at Mendoza-Ramirez, continuing to pull the trigger after the gun was empty.
The case was prosecuted by Managing Assistant District Attorney Aspen Talley and Assistant District Attorney Don Geary, with assistance from DA’s Investigators Ron Blackburn and Ashton Whiteside, and Victim Witness Advocate Chinelo Moneke. The Gwinnett County Police Department and Medical Examiner’s Office also contributed to the investigation.
