Rosendo Benitez, a 53-year-old Hispanic male from McAllen, Texas, tragically lost his life on January 27, 2022. Benitez was fatally shot multiple times in the 1600 block of North 29th Street in McAllen. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. when Benitez encountered a group of individuals who were in the process of committing burglaries in a stolen vehicle.
The investigation revealed that the suspects, Carlos Gustavo Macias-Mora, Amador Sandoval IV, Sandra Edith Morales, and a juvenile,
were driving a stolen 2018 Ford Fusion when they shot Benitez. Macias-Mora was the first to be detained by police and implicated the others during his interrogation. The handgun and ammunition found at Macias-Mora's residence matched the spent casings at the crime scene, further linking him to the murder.
Sandoval IV and Morales both pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, while Macias-Mora was convicted of murder and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Morales received an eight-year prison sentence, and Sandoval IV was sentenced to 10 years probation. The juvenile's case status remains unknown.
The tragic death of Rosendo Benitez has left a lasting impact on his family and the community, who remember him as a hardworking and dedicated father and grandfather.
