‘Wyland’s Law’ introduced, mother of Hanford boy says it could’ve saved son’s life

ABC30 Action News | April 15, 2025

The memory of a Hanford boy could soon live on through a new state law. Recently, Assemblymember Catherine Stefan introduced AB 1363, called “Wyland’s Law.” It would require county courts to keep a record showing they followed through on sending protective orders to the Department of Justice.

“It is unthinkable that someone subject to a restraining order could still gain access to a firearm because of a bureaucratic failure,” she said on Tuesday.

Christy Camara’s son, Wyland Gomes, was 10 years old when he was shot to death in 2020.  His father, Victor, killed him before turning the gun on himself. Victor never should have had the weapon. There was a restraining order.

“If a mother and her attorney would’ve done this six years ago, seven years ago, maybe Wyland would be alive, ” Camara said.

Camara’s attorney, Joseph Alioto, said,

“The Superior Court waited some eight months before it transmitted that order, and as a result of that delay…Victor Gomes was able to purchase the firearm.”

During the news conference Tuesday, Camara described her son as “funny, smart and polite,” with a “quiet, kind soul.”

“It’s sad it’s a law in my son’s name because I’d rather my son just be here than have a law in his honor.”

Since 2021, Alioto has been tirelessly pursuing the Department of Justice, the State of California, and the Superior Court of Kings County to discover how and why the State allowed a man to arm himself while he was under an active court order preventing him from buying guns. Alioto has sued the Department of Justice for refusing to provide records that would explain the government’s error. (Christy Camara Gomes v. Dep’t of Justice (S.F. Superior Court), case no. 22-CPF-517886 [access the case by inputting the case number into “Civil Case Query” here].) Alioto has also sued the Superior Court of Kings County, the State of California, and the Department of Justice for Wyland’s wrongful death. (Christy Camara Gomes v. State of California, et al. (Kings Co. Superior Court), case no. 23CU0424 [access case records here].) Together, Alioto and Christy seek to hold the government accountable and ensure the errors that led to Wyland’s tragic death are never repeated.