Man faces manslaughter charge in Sullivan City shooting

A 27-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter after he said his gun went off while he was cleaning it, killing his 25-year-old girlfriend, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.

Sullivan City police officers responded to a house on Loma Street on Friday, Sept. 26, around 9 p.m. and found Federico Cantu pulling a woman out of the house. The woman, Viridiana Hernandez, appeared to have been shot in the face, states a criminal complaint. Cantu told officers it was an accident that occurred while cleaning the weapon.

Hernandez was pronounced dead at a local hospital by Hidalgo County Pct. 3, Place 1 Justice of the Peace Luis Garza, who also ordered an autopsy.

The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation at the request of the Sullivan City Police Department. Hidalgo County Pct. 2, Place 2 Justice of the Peace Rosa Trevino arraigned Cantu earlier this week and set a $500,000 bond.