Crime
Barstow Woman Arrested for Child Abuse and Attempted Murder of 3-Year-Old Stepdaughter
On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at approximately 10:53 a.m., the Barstow Police Department dispatch center received a report from Barstow Community Hospital regarding an unresponsive 3-year-old girl who had been brought in by her stepmother.
Hospital staff determined that the child was not breathing and had sustained severe injuries covering her entire body, including her head and face.
Medical personnel at Barstow Community Hospital successfully resuscitated the child and, due to the severity of her injuries, transferred her to Loma Linda University Medical Center for further treatment.
Upon arrival, hospital staff discovered that the child had suffered multiple strokes due to a significant brain bleed, which necessitated the removal of a portion of her skull.
A team of forensic pediatricians at Loma Linda assessed the child and concluded that she had both recent and older injuries consistent with long-term child abuse.
The Barstow Police Department’s Detective Division took over the investigation, with Detective Gemma Day leading the case.
The extensive investigation involved interviews with multiple witnesses, execution of search warrants, and consultations with forensic pediatricians from Loma Linda University Medical Center and the Children’s Assessment Center, as well as coordination with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
Through the investigation, Detective Day determined that the child’s stepmother, identified as 32-year-old Enid Rodriguez Avila, was the sole individual responsible for the abuse. Based on the evidence gathered, an arrest warrant was issued for Avila.
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Barstow Police Detectives located and arrested Avila in Victorville. She was subsequently booked into the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto, facing the following charges:
- PC 273a(b) – Child Abuse Causing Paralysis
- PC 206 – Child Torture
- PC 664/187(a) – Attempted Murder
Authorities urge anyone with information related to this case to contact Detective Gemma Day at 760-255-5132 or via email at gday@barstowca.org.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information through the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27468) or by visiting www.wetip.com.
A 7-year-old girl was killed and her mother injured Tuesday night after gunfire was directed into their northwest Atlanta home in what police describe as a drive-by shooting.
The victim has been identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner as Zoey Price, who had recently celebrated her seventh birthday in December.
Authorities confirmed she is the youngest homicide victim recorded in the City of Atlanta so far in 2026.
According to the Atlanta Police Department, officers responded shortly after 9:45 p.m. to reports of shots fired at a residence in the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW, near the intersection of Joe Louis Drive NW.
During a late-night press conference, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated that the shooting appears to have stemmed from an earlier dispute between two individuals. Investigators believe the disagreement occurred approximately 30 minutes before the gunfire erupted.
Chief Schierbaum said the suspect returned to the area and opened fire into the home, where the child and her 44-year-old mother were inside at the time.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found both victims suffering from gunshot wounds. In an effort to save the child’s life, officers transported Zoey Price in the back of a patrol vehicle to a nearby hospital. Despite those efforts, she was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival.
Her mother was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. Authorities have not released details regarding her current condition.
Chief Schierbaum stated that homicide detectives are actively pursuing leads and expressed confidence that investigators have identified the individual responsible.
“We are going to arrest the individual who took a 7-year-old child from this city through senseless gun violence,” Schierbaum said. “You know who you are. If you’re watching this broadcast, turn yourself in. Because we are going to be coming to your home with an arrest warrant and we will take you into custody.”
He further emphasized the department’s commitment to securing justice for the victim and the community.
“We are coming for you. We are going to put you in jail and we are going to bring justice for this community,” the chief added.
The fatal shooting has shaken residents in the northwest Atlanta neighborhood, particularly given the young age of the victim. Investigators continue working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the earlier dispute and the events that led to the gunfire.
No arrests have been announced as of this time. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Atlanta Police Department as the investigation remains ongoing.