Teen Charged With Child Neglect After Fatal Fayette County Shooting

OAK HILL, W.Va. — An 18-year-old man is facing a charge of child neglect resulting in death after a minor was fatally shot inside a Fayette County home this week, according to a criminal complaint and a police press release reported by WVNS.

Gabriel Osorio was arrested without a warrant in connection with a shooting that left a male minor dead, authorities said. The incident unfolded Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when Oak Hill police responded to a report of a gunshot injury in the Oak Hill area of Fayette County.

What Police Found at the Scene

When officers arrived, they found Osorio “appeared distressed and was screaming for help,” the complaint noted. Inside the doorway of the home, a minor lay on his back with blood on his head. An officer grabbed materials and tried to render aid while calling for an expedited response from other agencies, and forensic specialists were contacted.

Law enforcement also found an AR-style gun on top of a bed inside the home. The injured minor was taken by EMS to Plateau Medical Center and then flown to CAMC, where he was later pronounced dead, according to a separate press release from the Oak Hill Police Department.

How the Shooting Allegedly Happened

According to the criminal complaint, Osorio told officers that another minor allegedly shot the victim. Three minors had been invited to the house by Osorio, who said he was eating in his kitchen when they arrived. Once he finished eating, he went into his bedroom and found one of the minors reportedly holding his AR-15-style gun, which allegedly fired and hit the victim.

The complaint lays out a sequence of lapses in securing the weapon. The gun had reportedly been bought by Osorio just a few days earlier. Its magazine was kept in a lockbox holding around six rounds of ammunition, the lockbox was locked, and the key was kept on Osorio’s dresser. One of the minors reportedly found the key, opened the lockbox, and retrieved the magazine. The three minors allegedly took photos with the gun, which reportedly did not have a magazine inserted and was not charged at the time.

Osorio told investigators he took the gun away from one of the minors and told the minor to leave it alone, but the juvenile allegedly retrieved the gun again, and a round was discharged, injuring one of the other minors. Osorio said he heard the gun go off, saw the injured minor, and that the other minor tossed the gun onto the bed and allegedly tried to run before Osorio stopped him. Osorio then went back into the house to offer aid before contacting emergency services.

The complaint also noted that Osorio was at the house with his stepmother, who had left to go to the bank, and that a speaker had been placed in the bedroom so the minors could talk and listen to music. The homeowner was not home when the incident occurred.

A School Community Grieving

The victim was a student in Fayette County Schools, and the district moved quickly to address the loss.

“Our hearts are heavy as we grieve the loss of one of our students. Right now, our focus is on supporting our students, staff, and family during this incredibly difficult time,” said David Warvel, superintendent of Fayette County Schools. “This tragedy has deeply impacted our entire school community, and we are working to ensure that counseling and other supports are available for those who need them.”

Warvel added that the district had seen “an outpouring of care and compassion from students, staff, families, and community members,” and asked that everyone keep the student’s family, friends, teammates, and the school community in their thoughts and prayers. Out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation, the district said it was not prepared to discuss specific details.

What Happens Next

Osorio met with law enforcement, was read his Miranda rights, and was questioned about the incident, according to the complaint. Two other juveniles located across the street also spoke with law enforcement, and everyone present when officers arrived was separated. The Oak Hill Police Department is leading the investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, and the criminal complaint states the incident remains under investigation. The charge against Osorio — child neglect resulting in death — reflects prosecutors’ focus on how an unsecured firearm ended up in the hands of minors in a home where an adult was supervising them.

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