Joel Garcia, a 25-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically shot and killed on April 18, 2015, in Abilene, Texas. The incident occurred at the corner of Peach and South 4th Street. Esteban Carmona Jr., a 26-year-old male, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Garcia's death. According to court records, Carmona testified that he shot Garcia because he believed Garcia had raped his sister. Carmona pointed a shotgun at Garcia and fired at his head.
Police found Carmona in a neighbor's backyard still holding the shotgun. He put the gun down and was arrested on the spot.
During the trial, Taylor County prosecutors presented evidence of Carmona's violent past, including a previous felony conviction for assault and a recorded testimony in which Carmona admitted to an aggravated robbery. The prosecution called an eyewitness, three forensic experts, several officers with the Abilene Police Department, and a Tarrant County medical examiner to testify. Carmona's defense attorney did not call any witnesses, nor did Carmona testify in his own defense.
The jury found Carmona guilty of murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison by a Taylor County jury on January 15, 2016. During the sentencing phase, Garcia's mother, Lydia Garcia Torres, addressed Carmona directly, expressing the profound impact her son's death had on her and her family. She described how the family would never again feel complete without Joel Garcia.
Carmona remains in the custody of Taylor County, serving his life sentence for the murder of Joel Garcia.
