EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A man was sentenced to almost three decades in prison for shooting and killing his uncle and injuring his aunt back in 2022 outside Jalisco Cafe, according to the El Paso District Attorney’s Office in a news release.
On Tuesday, Aug. 19, Angel Hinojos, 23, was found guilty of one count of murder for shooting at his aunt and uncle, Maria and Jesus Lopez, on May 29, 2022, outside the Jalisco Cafe in the Segundo Barrio neighborhood.
Hinojos’ aunt was wounded but survived. His uncle was shot four times and succumbed to his injuries. Hinojos had lived with his uncle at the time of the shooting, according to the DA’s Office.
The jury trial began on Tuesday, Aug. 12, with witness and expert testimony, and the jury began deliberating on the morning of Aug. 19 and took three hours to reach a guilty verdict, the DA’s Office said.
The DA’s Office said testimony and evidence was presented in the sentencing hearing on Aug. 12, and the jury began deciding on a sentence the following day.
After three hours of deliberations, the jury denied that the defendant was moved by “sudden passion” before committing the fatal shooting and handed down a sentence of 27 years in prison, the DA’s Office said.
“I commend the jury for recognizing that the dangerous and deadly act committed by the
Defendant was one of intent, and not self-defense or sudden passion,” said District Attorney
James Montoya. “It was a choice by the defendant to shoot and kill his uncle in the middle of the street on a Sunday afternoon. I give condolences to the Lopez family, who lost their loved one and testified against another one.”
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