On a November evening in 2021, the life of 19-year-old Angel Jesus Reyes was tragically cut short in South Phoenix, Arizona. A Hispanic male, Reyes was found on the sidewalk in the 6600 block of South 13th Place on November 23rd, miles from his Glendale home, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
Investigations revealed that Angel had been picked up by two acquaintances, Lister Sanchez, also known to some as Lister 'Slumpy' Gonzalez, and Michael Hernandez.
The duo had reportedly promised him a ride to a friend's house. According to police records, at some point during the drive, one of the men asked to see the Glock that Angel carried for his own protection. Trustingly, he handed it over. The vehicle was then pulled over under the pretense of needing to use the restroom. Angel was ordered out of the car and was shot at close range in his left eye.
Both Sanchez and Hernandez later admitted to being present at the scene of the shooting but pointed the finger at each other as the one who pulled the trigger. After the incident, they fled without alerting the authorities. In a chilling detail, they later returned to the scene to search for the spent shell casing.
In July of 2022, Michael Hernandez, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and armed robbery. However, he was released the following day, and no formal charges were filed. Lister Sanchez was never arrested in connection with the crime. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the case, citing a lack of evidence and issues with the admissibility of the statements provided by the two men. The case remains a source of immense pain for Angel's family, who continue to seek justice for his untimely death.
