Jaime Sylas Duran, a 16-year-old male of Hispanic ethnicity, tragically died on November 9, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. The incident occurred when Duran was shot in the head during a failed $30 marijuana deal. According to court records, Duran attempted to rob one of the individuals involved, Juan Manuel Pineda, 17, who responded by shooting Duran. Surveillance images and social media posts helped police identify Pineda as the shooter.
Following the shooting, police arrested three
individuals, Danielle Morales-Perez, 24, Justin Garcia, 21, and Eva Garcia, 21, for abandoning a child, as they had a 15-year-old girl in the car with them during the incident. However, they were not charged with Duran's murder. Pineda was later arrested and charged with endangering a child. The investigation revealed that shots were fired within three feet of the 15-year-old girl, placing her in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
The Lubbock Metro Special Crimes Unit continued to investigate the case, and the community was urged to come forward with any information. The tragic death of Jaime Sylas Duran highlighted the dangers associated with such criminal activities and the impact on innocent bystanders.
