Ruben Trinidad, a 17-year-old male from Garland, Texas, tragically lost his life on January 5, 2017. Ruben was murdered outside a Chili's restaurant in Garland during the afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. when Ruben walked outside alone and got into a vehicle with a 15-year-old juvenile in the parking lot. The investigation revealed that the encounter was related to a narcotics transaction.
The 15-year-old suspect shot Ruben once in the upper body, leading to his death.
The Garland Police Department responded to the scene and found Ruben injured in the parking lot. He was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect, a 15-year-old juvenile, was later arrested and charged with murder. The suspect's family members turned him into the police along with what detectives believe to be the murder weapon.
Ruben Trinidad's death deeply affected his community, especially his classmates at Rowlett High School. Counselors were made available to help students cope with the loss of their senior classmate. The school held a moment of silence in Ruben's honor, and students wore red, his favorite color, to pay tribute to him. The investigation into Ruben's murder is ongoing, and it remains unclear if prosecutors will seek to try the teenage suspect as an adult.
