In a tragic turn of events stemming from a family dispute, Jose Salomon Fernandez Barrientos, a 42-year-old man, was shot and killed in his Gretna, Louisiana, home on March 1, 2022. The incident unfolded in the 1700 block of Newton Street, where an argument between Fernandez Barrientos and his girlfriend escalated, drawing the fatal attention of her brother, Jose Robles Marques.
According to reports, Marques, 43, approached the bedroom where the couple was arguing, armed with a.
38-caliber revolver. He then opened fire on Fernandez Barrientos, who was seated on the bed, striking him at least five times. Fernandez Barrientos succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Following the shooting, Jose Robles Marques was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. During the trial, his defense team argued that he was acting in defense of his sister, claiming a history of domestic violence. They contended that Marques believed his sister was in imminent danger and that the homicide was justifiable.
However, the prosecution presented evidence that undermined this claim. In his statement to Gretna police, Marques admitted to retrieving and loading the firearm before entering the couple's bedroom. He also stated that he saw his sister and Fernandez Barrientos separate before he began shooting, continuing to fire until the weapon was empty. Prosecutors argued that this demonstrated the shooting was neither reasonable nor necessary, but rather an act of anger. After approximately an hour and fifteen minutes of deliberation, the jury found Jose Robles Marques guilty as charged. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, the mandatory sentence for a second-degree murder conviction in Louisiana.
