LOS ANGELES –
Gabbie Gonzalez, a TikTok influencer, has been arrested in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting singer Jack Avery.
The case highlights the acute security vulnerabilities facing high-profile artists and the potential for private custody disputes to escalate into serious criminal conspiracies involving public figures within the creator economy.
Gonzalez was arrested during the week of May 12, 2026, in Humboldt County, California, while boarding a flight. She was subsequently transferred to Los Angeles County, where she is currently being held without bail. She is expected to be charged with conspiracy to commit murder under California law, which defines conspiracy as an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime and an overt act in furtherance of that agreement, as set out in California Penal Code §182.
The investigation also led to the arrest of Francisco Gonzalez, the suspect’s father. He was taken into custody in Florida on May 18, 2026, and booked on the same charge. Prosecutors are expected to decide in the coming days whether to pursue additional counts, including possible enhancements related to interstate conduct and the use of alleged intermediaries.
Investigation and Undercover Operations
The allegations stem from a long-running custody dispute between Gonzalez and Avery over their seven-year-old daughter, Lavender. Court filings in such cases typically determine where a child may reside, the scope of visitation, and who can make key decisions – issues that can intensify tensions when one parent, like Avery, maintains a public career and travels extensively for work.
Authorities claim the plot dates back to 2021. The strategy reportedly involved tracking and photographing Avery in Hawaii, his place of residence, to collect material for use in the custody case. Investigators are examining whether any of that surveillance crossed the line from aggressive documentation into criminal stalking or harassment.
Investigators believe Gonzalez and an associate later attempted to recruit an individual to threaten Avery. During the course of the investigation, a federal agent posed as a hitman during a phone call with Francisco Gonzalez. According to police, payments, timing and the intended target were discussed during this communication, which authorities say was recorded and will likely be central evidence if the case proceeds to trial.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department noted that Francisco Gonzalez became deeply involved in the dispute and in communications about Avery’s whereabouts. One witness alleged that he stated it would be “cheaper if Avery were dead,” a remark investigators view as supporting the claim that the threats were not merely rhetorical but part of an escalating plan.
Security Warnings and Target Impact
Jack Avery, formerly a member of the boy band Why Don’t We, had previously stated that FBI agents warned him that an attempt was being made on his life. Such warnings are typically issued when federal authorities assess a credible threat under internal guidelines that prioritize the safety of potential targets, especially when alleged plots span multiple states.
Reports indicate that while Avery was aware of the threat via federal authorities, he did not know Gonzalez was allegedly involved in the plot at that time. People close to the musician say the warnings prompted heightened personal security measures and adjustments to his travel schedule, underscoring how criminal cases rooted in private disputes can quickly spill into the public and professional lives of entertainers.
Francisco Gonzalez has not yet been extradited to Los Angeles. Extradition between states in the U.S. is governed by the Constitution’s Extradition Clause and implementing statutes, a process that typically involves the issuing state submitting a formal request to the holding state and a court there confirming the identity of the person sought. Authorities in California and Florida have not provided a public timetable, but law enforcement officials say they expect him to be brought before a Los Angeles County court after those procedural steps are completed.
As the case moves forward, it is likely to test how courts, law enforcement and social media platforms respond when intensely personal disputes in the influencer economy allegedly give rise to organized violence – raising fresh questions about threat monitoring, custody safeguards and the responsibilities of institutions charged with protecting both children and public figures.
