Kevin Villafranca Torres, a 21-year-old Hispanic man, was a devoted son, brother, grandson, cousin, and friend. Born in Mexico on September 9, 2003, he resided in Brownsville, Texas, where he was remembered by his family for the impact he had on their lives.
On the evening of Friday, November 1, 2024, Kevin met with a group of individuals in Brownsville to purchase a handgun. According to police, a disagreement broke out during the meeting, which led to an exchange of gunfire. At approximately 8:51 p.m., responding officers found Kevin unresponsive on the southbound Frontage Road near 7077 N Expressway 77/83. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries two days later, on November 3, 2024.
The Brownsville Police Department’s investigation quickly led them to a suspect vehicle, a red 2011 Chevy Cruze with bullet holes. Investigators tracked the car to an apartment on Vermont Drive in Harlingen.
A standoff ensued when suspects refused to exit the residence, but it ended peacefully with their surrender. Police initially arrested three people: 22-year-old Allexsis Marie Street, 20-year-old Kody Gonser, and 19-year-old D’Marco Donez, who was identified as the alleged shooter.
As the investigation continued, two more suspects were arrested and charged in connection with the killing: 17-year-old Hercules Aaron Delgado and 18-year-old Adrian Marquez-Lopez, both of Harlingen. In total, five people faced charges ranging from murder and engaging in organized criminal activity to failure to report a felony.
Subsequent legal proceedings altered the status of the charges. In January 2025, the murder charges against Allexsis Marie Street and Kody Gonser were dismissed, though they remained in jail on unrelated drug charges. The charge of engaging in organized criminal activity against D’Marco Donez was also dropped.
As of January 2025, D’Marco Donez and Hercules Aaron Delgado remain charged with murder in the death of Kevin Villafranca Torres. Their cases are pending litigation. Both Delgado and Adrian Marquez-Lopez, who was charged with failure to report a felony, have bailed out of jail. Donez remains in custody on a $1 million bond.
