The family of a father and daughter from Memphis who were shot and killed in Mississippi wants help understanding what went wrong. Victor Gonzalez, 39, and his 19-year-old daughter, Serenity Gonzalez, reportedly left their home in Tennessee to make a purchase on Facebook Marketplace in Mississippi. Deputies from the Panola County Sheriff’s Office found the family’s vehicle on the side of River Road on March 1, 2026. It appeared the vehicle was in a single-car accident. When deputies looked closer, they found Gonzalez and his daughter both dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Now they’re asking the public for help finding the person who shot them.
Panola County Sheriff Shane Phelps told Fox 13 that dispatchers received a call about a one-vehicle accident early Sunday morning and arrived shortly afterward.
“We did receive a call Sunday morning around 7 of a one-car wreck,” Phelps said. “On arrival of our deputies, they noticed one victim was deceased, and shortly thereafter the other victim as well was deceased.”
He told the news outlet he could not give out much information, but investigators did not believe an ongoing threat to the public existed. “Hopefully, in the near future we’ll be able to put more information out,” Phelps added.
Gonzalez’s 15-year-old son, Jessie Waterman, told ABC 24 his dad and sister went to purchase a video game console.
“They were going to get a PlayStation 5 off of Facebook Marketplace … And something must’ve happened with the transaction,” Waterman said. “From what it looks like, they were trying to flee based on the tracks on the road and the mud on the side of the van.”
Police have not confirmed this theory, but the teen thinks something went terribly wrong. As investigators work to track down a suspect, the teen fondly remembered his dad and sister.
“He was a funny man, but he always knew what to do when it came to business. He was a really good father, even if we didn’t agree on things,” Waterman said of his dad, per ABC 24.
The teen said he will also miss his sister, whom he loved dearly. “We were like two peas and a pod. That was like my other half. She was a really fun person, and she always knew how to put a smile on somebody’s face. She knew how to make you laugh,” he shared.
Anyone with information about the crash or shooting should contact Crimestoppers of Panola County at 662-209-2011.
Facebook Marketplace and similar sites can be a great place to score a deal, but dangers are associated with these kinds of transactions and strangers. If you can, meet up in a public place or even a police station parking lot. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
