On a November evening in 2014, the life of 21-year-old Daniel Cornejo, a Hispanic male, was tragically cut short in Gainesville, Georgia. The father of two was fatally shot on West Avenue in what law enforcement officials would later describe as a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence. The incident, which occurred outside the Brookwood West No.
2 apartments, prompted an intensive investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The investigation led to the identification of two suspects: Hector Alejandro Bautista, who was 18 at the time, and David Olivas, then 21. Both men were charged with felony murder in connection with Cornejo's death. Following the issuance of warrants for their arrest, authorities began the search for the two individuals, who were considered armed and dangerous. The case drew significant attention in the local community, highlighting concerns over youth involvement in violent crime.
The pursuit of justice for Daniel Cornejo crossed international borders when one of the suspects, Hector Alejandro Bautista, was located in and extradited from Mexico. In January 2018, more than three years after the shooting, Bautista stood trial in Hall County Superior Court. He faced charges of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault. After legal proceedings that were closely followed by the community, a jury found Hector Alejandro Bautista guilty. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for his role in the death of Daniel Cornejo.
While the legal process brought a conviction for one of the individuals involved, the outcome for the second suspect, David Olivas, remains less clear from available online sources. The focus of the publicly available information has been on the successful apprehension, trial, and conviction of Hector Alejandro Bautista, leaving the final chapter in the case against David Olivas in this matter without a documented public resolution.
