Jhovanie Julian Guerrero, a 24-year-old man, was killed during a burst of gunfire at a backyard birthday gathering in southeast Fort Worth, Texas, during the early morning hours of September 20, 2026. The gathering was taking place at a residence in the 4300 block of Martin Street when an argument escalated into violence. Fort Worth police were called to the property at approximately 3:30 a.m., and officers ultimately found four people suffering from gunshot wounds. Guerrero and another victim, Jose Alejandro Valladolid, died at the scene, while two other wounded people were taken to a hospital.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the confrontation began when 23-year-old Cesar Sebastian Palomo became involved in a heated argument with his girlfriend during the party. Palomo reportedly left the gathering but later returned, driving his vehicle into the backyard. The dispute with his girlfriend then resumed. Guerrero was the woman's brother, and witnesses told investigators that he confronted Palomo over the situation. What began as a confrontation between the two men developed into a physical fight.
Investigators allege that during the fight Palomo produced a handgun and began firing. Guerrero was struck in the neck and suffered a fatal wound. Valladolid was also shot, suffering a gunshot wound to the back of his head, and died at the scene. Authorities said a third person was shot in the abdomen. The arrest affidavit describes the shooting as continuing until another person at the gathering obtained a black-and-gold handgun identified as belonging to Guerrero and fired at Palomo in an effort to prevent him from shooting additional people. Palomo was struck by gunfire as well.
The gunfire left four people wounded in total. Guerrero and Valladolid could not be saved, while Palomo and the other wounded person were transported for medical treatment. Initial information released immediately after the shooting described an exchange of gunfire during a fight and did not publicly identify everyone involved. As investigators interviewed witnesses and developed the sequence of events, the arrest affidavit provided a more detailed account alleging that Palomo was the person who opened fire on Guerrero, Valladolid and the surviving wounded victim.
Palomo was arrested in connection with the killings and accused of capital murder involving multiple victims. Police said he was himself among those injured during the shooting and initially remained hospitalized while facing the charge. The accusation against him remains an allegation, and the available reports reviewed through September 24, 2026, do not describe a trial or conviction. The case therefore remains in its early criminal-prosecution stage, with investigators alleging that an argument at what had begun as a birthday celebration escalated into the confrontation that ended Guerrero's life and claimed the life of Valladolid as well.
Outside the circumstances of the shooting, Guerrero's obituary described him as a devoted husband, father, son, brother, grandson and friend. He was born in Arlington, Texas, and his death left a family mourning someone whose life, according to those remembering him, had been centered around the people closest to him.
