Elias Gonzales, a 36-year-old Hispanic man from Lubbock, Texas, tragically died on January 1, 2015, at his residence in the 1500 block of 42nd Street. He was shot by 23-year-old Casey Eby, who was later arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder. Eby admitted to the shooting, claiming he had been looking for Gonzales and fired through the door when he couldn't get in.
The incident occurred early in the morning, and Gonzales' common-law wife, Carla Sifert, heard the shots and
saw him fall to the ground. Gonzales' son also witnessed the shooting. Eby was found with a gun that matched the bullets used in the crime, and he confessed to a friend that he had committed the murder.
In court, Eby pleaded guilty to the murder and received a 30-year prison sentence. The case was one of several homicide cases closed by the Lubbock County District Attorney's office in 2016.
The loss of Elias Gonzales deeply affected his family and friends, who continue to seek justice and closure. His sister, Michele Cervantez, expressed that the pain of losing him has forever changed their family.
