On the evening of November 30, 2023, 36-year-old Jesse Mattos was fatally shot outside the HatTrick Indoor Sports Bar, located in the 200 block of North Main Street in Temple, Texas. Emergency responders arrived at the scene around 10:17 p.m., but despite their efforts, Mattos was pronounced dead at 10:45 p.m.
In the days following the incident, Temple Police identified two suspects: 18-year-old Justin Hix and 24-year-old Ricardo Salazar.
Hix was wanted on charges of murder, while Salazar faced charges of aggravated assault. Both individuals were considered armed and dangerous. Hix surrendered to authorities on December 1, 2023, and Salazar turned himself in on December 2, 2023.
The Bell County Grand Jury subsequently indicted both suspects. On January 31, 2024, Hix was indicted for the murder of Mattos, and Salazar was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon related to the same incident.
Mattos was remembered by his family and friends as a loving and caring individual with a passion for fishing and nature. His mother, Coffie Gushea-Larson, described him as a "beautiful soul" who was always willing to help others. His significant other, Rebecca Conlin, recalled him as a "rock in everyone's life" who brought joy to all he met.
The community of Temple, Texas, mourned the loss of Mattos, whose untimely death highlighted concerns about violence in the area. The legal proceedings against Hix and Salazar were closely followed by residents seeking justice for Mattos and his family.
