On November 3, 2019, Jose Isabel Rojo-Velasco, a 34-year-old Hispanic man from Nacogdoches, Texas, tragically lost his life. Rojo-Velasco was working on a barn with four other men when Victor Torres, a 19-year-old man, approached them and began shooting with a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle. Rojo-Velasco was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other men managed to escape, though some sustained injuries.
Torres was later arrested and confessed to the shooting.
He claimed to have had an ongoing issue with one of the victims, although investigators found no substantial evidence of any previous problems between Torres and the victims. Torres was charged with murder and four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In July 2024, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of Rojo-Velasco and 20 years for the aggravated assault charges, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The case drew significant attention in Nacogdoches, with Torres remaining in jail with a bond set at $1 million. Sheriff Jason Bridges mentioned that the attack might have been a case of mistaken identity. Despite the tragic loss, Rojo-Velasco's family and friends remember him fondly for his love of Charreria Mexicana, his dedication to his family, and his kind-hearted nature.
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