A staff member for Republican Representative Tony Gonzales has died after being found on fire at her home in Uvalde, Texas. Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, succumbed to her injuries on Sunday morning, prompting a police investigation.
According to her mother, Nora Ann Gonzales, she drove to her daughter’s house and discovered her outside, still conscious when emergency services arrived. Santos-Aviles was airlifted to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio but later died. Her mother recounted that her last words were, 'I don’t want to die.'
The Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department received a call at 9:39 pm on Saturday reporting a person on fire. The call was cancelled en route as the fire had been extinguished, but four firefighters responded due to proximity. Chief Mario Rangel said that upon arrival, crews found a fire behind the residence that had been put out with a fire extinguisher, and paramedics were treating a woman with burns.
Police Chief Homer E. Delgado stated there was no indication of foul play, but all unattended deaths are investigated as standard. He expressed condolences to the family, urging the community to stand together. Congressman Tony Gonzales paid tribute, saying, 'Regina devoted her profession toward making a difference in her community. She will always be remembered for her passion towards Uvalde.'
Santos-Aviles, who is married and has an eight-year-old son, lived near the memorial to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, which claimed 21 lives. The incident remains under investigation.
