The gang was responsible for the murder of a father of six, and two men have now been sentenced to prison for their involvement in the crime.
South Austin caught Guillermo Gomez off guard in 2019, and while his murderers were standing trial, his family experienced the anguish of his death once more.
Guillermo Gomez’s brother-in-law, Amanda Rodriguez’s husband, expressed his disappointment saying, “Despite my repeated warnings, he trusted everyone.”
According to her, the cause of her brother-in-law’s death was linked to it.
Rodriguez expressed that it is still surprising to them.
Almost five years ago, someone shot and killed Gomez, who was a father of six.
Rodriguez revealed that the children are still hurt and deeply miss their father. Many people often talk about him, and his absence is felt particularly during football, soccer, volleyball, and basketball games. “It’s been a significant loss for us,” she added.
On June 22, 2019, Gomez captured a video on his cell phone, depicting his departure from his apartment at approximately 11:45 p.m. He was accompanied by Francisco Lopez Jr., 36, who claimed that they were en route to purchase two ounces of meth. Upon arriving at a nearby McDonald’s, they met with Evan Zanders, 47. They subsequently proceeded to the back of Bainbridge Villas in South Austin. Notably, surveillance footage from the complex revealed that their car entered at 12:37 a.m. and left just six minutes later.
According to Zanders, it was a setup to have Lopez kill Gomez, as per his statement to the police.
According to Rodriguez, “He never saw this coming.”
According to a witness statement given to the police, Gomez was heavily indebted to drug dealers, and Lopez claimed that the cartel had ordered them to eliminate Gomez.
Rodriguez cautioned against getting involved in such activities, emphasizing the importance of refraining from them even in dire financial circumstances. “No matter how badly you need money,” he advised, “do not get involved with those kinds of things.”
In the case of murder in the first degree, both Lopez and Zanders were charged. While Zanders faced the court in January 2023 and pleaded guilty, receiving a sentence of 36 years in jail, Lopez’s court date was set for May.
“It was painful to relive everything, witnessing and hearing all the details,” he expressed.
A jury convicted Lopez, and he received a 28-year prison sentence.
Rodriguez expressed that no matter what punishment is given, it will not bring back his brother. “Whether they sentence him for five, ten, 20, 30 years, or even for life, it won’t change anything,” he said.
She conveyed to them that she holds no grudges and sympathizes with their families, as per Rodriguez’s statement.
Rodriguez suggests that their family’s experience with drug use and sales could serve as a testimony to other families. By sharing their story, they could raise awareness of the harmful effects of drugs and narcotics, and potentially prevent others from experiencing similar pain and suffering.
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