Henry De Jesus Mayen, a 26-year-old male of Hispanic ethnicity, tragically died on August 6, 2017, in Shiro, Texas. Mayen was shot in the chest during a confrontation with Robert Jesse Bender, a former friend. The incident occurred at 19257 State Highway 30 in Shiro, where law enforcement responded to a shooting at around 6:30 p.m.
The confrontation stemmed from a verbal exchange earlier that day, during which Bender was reportedly upset over insults and threats from Mayen. Investigators revealed that Bender was living with Mayen's estranged wife, which further fueled the dispute. During the confrontation, Bender shot Mayen with a .22 caliber rifle. Despite the shooting, Bender attempted to perform CPR on Mayen, but his efforts were in vain.
Robert Jesse Bender, aged 29, was later arrested and charged with the murder of Henry De Jesus Mayen. In September 2019, Bender pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The court proceedings included victim impact statements from Mayen's family, who expressed their grief and the senseless nature of the tragedy.
The case highlighted the devastating consequences of unresolved conflicts and the importance of addressing disputes before they escalate to violence. The family of Henry De Jesus Mayen has been able to begin moving past the incident, although the loss remains a painful memory.
