Johnathon Phillip Hess, a 26-year-old male of Caucasian ethnicity, tragically passed away on April 13, 2016, in Temple, Texas. He was fatally shot in his residence during a shooting incident that also claimed the life of Vicente Hernandez, a 36-year-old male from Killeen. The incident occurred when two unknown suspects approached the residence and opened fire, resulting in multiple gunshot wounds to Hess.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the incident, Temple police launched an investigation that led to the arrest of three suspects from San Angelo: Lupe Martinez Chappa III, Rodrigo Lara Gutierrez, and Justin Lane Slatton Jr. Chappa and Gutierrez were indicted on murder charges, while Slatton faced capital murder charges. A witness identified Slatton as the shooter of Hess and Chappa as the shooter of Hernandez. The suspects were linked to the crime scene through surveillance footage and witness descriptions.
The investigation revealed that the suspects traveled from San Angelo to Temple around the time of the shooting and returned immediately afterward. The case drew significant attention, and Slatton was added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list. The legal proceedings involved multiple arrests, indictments, and ongoing litigation as authorities sought justice for the victims.
The tragic deaths of Johnathon Hess and Vicente Hernandez highlighted the devastating impact of gun violence and the importance of swift and thorough law enforcement responses to such incidents.
