Vicente Hernandez, a 36-year-old Hispanic male from Killeen, Texas, tragically lost his life on April 13, 2016, in Temple, Texas. He was found lying on the floor inside a residence with a large amount of blood around his head. Despite being rushed to Baylor Scott & White Memorial Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
The incident occurred when Temple police responded to a shots fired call at the residence. A witness present at the scene reported that she, along with the victims, walked outside when two unknown suspects approached and opened fire. The witness identified one of the suspects as a young Hispanic male with curly hair who shot Hernandez, while the other suspect, described as a Hispanic male with tattoos on his neck, shot the other victim, Johnathan Hess.
Following the incident, a Bell County grand jury indicted three men from San Angelo for their involvement in the double homicide. Justin Lane Slatton Jr. was indicted on capital murder charges, while Lupe Martinez Chappa III and Rodrigo Lara Gutierrez were indicted for murder. The investigation revealed that Slatton was identified as the shooter of Hess, and Chappa as the shooter of Hernandez. The suspects' vehicle, a black Dodge Charger, was seen leaving the area on surveillance cameras.
The case has seen multiple legal proceedings, with Slatton facing a possible death sentence. Chappa and Gutierrez are also facing significant prison time if convicted. The investigation involved extensive forensic analysis, including tire tread comparisons and cellphone data tracking, which linked the suspects to the crime scene.
This tragic event has left a lasting impact on the community, and the legal proceedings continue to unfold as the justice system seeks to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.
