In the early hours of a Monday morning in South Bend, Indiana, the life of 16-year-old Luis Hernandez-Acosta was tragically cut short. A student at Washington High School, Luis was fatally shot on July 10, 2023, in the 400 block of South Carlisle Street. The incident was the culmination of an ongoing dispute with another teenager, 16-year-old Edwin Torres-Becerril. On the night of July 9th, the two had arranged to confront one another.
Witnesses who were with Luis prior to the shooting reported hearing a chilling phone conversation where someone threatened to kill him.
Just after 1 a.m. on July 10th, police responded to reports of gunfire and found Luis suffering from gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators learned from witnesses that two individuals dressed in black were seen shooting Luis. A ShotSpotter report confirmed the chaotic scene, indicating that two different firearms had discharged a total of 16 rounds. The South Bend Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit immediately began an investigation into the homicide.
The investigation quickly led to two suspects: Edwin Torres-Becerril and Esequiel Trejo Jr. Surveillance footage from the area was instrumental in identifying the pair. Further evidence was uncovered through their digital footprints. Cell phone records for Torres-Becerril showed he had called Luis three times just moments before the fatal shooting. Location data from both Torres-Becerril's and Trejo's phones placed them in the vicinity of the crime at the time it occurred. The day after the shooting, Torres-Becerril reportedly attempted to sell a handgun and later buried a gun in his parents' backyard.
Edwin Torres-Becerril was arrested and charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. In November 2024, Esequiel Trejo Jr., then 18, was found guilty of Aiding Murder, a felony, and Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a Level 1 Felony. The sentencing for murder ranges from 45 to 65 years, while a Level 1 felony carries a sentence of 20 to 40 years.
