A Fort Worth ISD employee has been arrested in connection with the April 17 fatal shooting of his wife, a Fort Worth-area elementary school assistant principal and mother of three, at their Benbrook home.
The deceased, Lindsay Velasquez, 42, was the assistant principal at Luella Merrett Elementary School in Fort Worth ISD, where she was in her second year in that role, according to the school's
website. Her husband, Alberto Alexander Velasquez, 39, is also employed by Fort Worth ISD, with
state records indicating he holds a teaching certification in social studies for grades 7 through 12.
Benbrook police and EMS responded to the couple's home in the 1,000 block of Sproles Drive at about 7:30 p.m. on April 17 after receiving a report that someone had been accidentally shot in the face. Officers found Lindsay Velasquez unconscious with an apparent gunshot wound when they arrived, police said in a statement to numerous outlets.
The mother of three was transported to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, where she was pronounced dead. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office determined she died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Her husband, Alberto Velasquez, was arrested in connection with the shooting and charged with manslaughter, according to Tarrant County
jail records. Alberto Velasquez was released from jail on bond on the morning of April 21, the records show.
Benbrook police have not released additional details about what led up to the shooting, and officials said the investigation remains ongoing.
A spokesperson for the police department did not respond to a request for comment from NTD News when contacted after hours on April 23.
Family Mourns Loss
Fort Worth ISD told the Star-Telegram that counselors are being made available to students and staff at affected campuses. "We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our thoughts are with the family and all those impacted," the district said in a statement.Lindsay Velasquez's father, Joe Velasquez,
confirmed her passing in a Facebook post on April 18. "Our beautiful daughter Lindsay passed away yesterday she left behind three beautiful daughters our family has gone through a lot in the past year and now we don't have Lindsey with us," he wrote.
Her mother, Janet Velasquez, similarly
posted on April 20: "We lost our beautiful daughter Lindsay. She leaves behind 3 beautiful daughters. Please keep us in your prayers and good thoughts."
Her brother, Martin Velasquez, also
mourned her death in his own post. "It's with the heaviest of hearts that I share the passing of my beloved sister, Lindsay Velasquez," he wrote on April 18. "She passed yesterday and went to heaven to be the most kickass angel there is... I'll miss you forever big sis, Your impact has been and will be greater than you will ever get to know."
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Lindsay Velasquez's family and friends to cover funeral and memorial expenses and support her three daughters has raised over $19,000 toward a $25,000 goal. "More than anything, we know that Lindsay's greatest wish would be that her precious girls are deeply loved, cared for, and provided for in her absence," the fundraiser states.
