Julian Garcia, a 3-year-old Hispanic boy from Rio Grande City, Texas, tragically died on November 7, 2016. He and his father, Hector Garcia Jr., aged 41, were shot inside their Ford F-250 pickup truck at an intersection in Rio Grande City. The incident occurred on November 6, 2016, and Julian was pronounced dead the following day at Starr County Memorial Hospital.
The investigation into Julian's death led to the arrest of Jesus Angel Rebollar, who was 17 years old at the time of the
shooting. Rebollar was later convicted of two counts of capital murder for the deaths of Hector Garcia Jr. and Julian Garcia. In 2019, a jury sentenced Rebollar to two life sentences without the possibility of parole. The trial revealed that Rebollar fired more than 40 shots into the truck, killing both father and son. The jury heard testimony from an eyewitness who identified Rebollar as the shooter based on his appearance and clothing.
Despite Rebollar's appeal, which argued that the eyewitness identification was unreliable and that the evidence was insufficient, the appellate court upheld the life sentences. Rebollar is currently serving his sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Telford Unit in Rosharon, Texas.
The tragic loss of Julian Garcia and his father has left a lasting impact on their family and the community of Rio Grande City. The case highlights the devastating consequences of gun violence and the importance of thorough investigations and legal proceedings to bring justice for the victims.
