On May 4, 2016, 21-year-old Reynaldo Reyes Jr., a male of Hispanic ethnicity, was fatally shot at an apartment complex in Edinburg, Texas. The incident occurred shortly after midnight when Victor Lee Alfaro, then 27 years old, allegedly shot Reyes Jr. multiple times. Reyes Jr. was transported to Doctors Hospital at Renaissance but was pronounced dead due to his injuries.
Victor Alfaro, who was Reyes Jr.'s then-girlfriend's brother, fled the scene but was later arrested in Weslaco, Texas.
Alfaro faced charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault. During the trial, Nancy Lopez, Reyes Jr.'s sister and Alfaro's then-girlfriend, testified that Alfaro had put on gloves and loaded a 9mm gun before the shooting. She also claimed that Alfaro held her at gunpoint after the shooting and apologized to her.
The trial faced several challenges, including a mistrial in 2018 due to the jury's inability to reach a unanimous decision. However, in a subsequent trial held in 2022, Alfaro was found guilty of first-degree murder. The jury sentenced him to 58 years in prison. The prosecution presented evidence that Alfaro had smoked methamphetamine before shooting Reyes Jr. Despite inconsistencies in Lopez's testimony, the jury ultimately convicted Alfaro based on the overall evidence presented.
The case brought significant attention to the Edinburg community and highlighted issues of domestic violence and drug use. The family of Reynaldo Reyes Jr. expressed relief and gratitude for the verdict, hoping it would bring some closure and justice for their loss.
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