On July 2, 2023, 39-year-old Bertin Albarran was found fatally shot on Lake June Road in Balch Springs, Texas. Earlier that evening, Albarran had attended a house party alongside 22-year-old John Rivera, who resided at the party's location. Surveillance footage revealed Albarran exiting the passenger side of a red Chevrolet Camaro in the middle of the road, after which he was shot multiple times by the driver, identified as Rivera. The assailant then fled the scene in the vehicle.
In the ensuing investigation, authorities discovered the red Camaro at a car wash on Elam Road in Pleasant Grove. Surveillance video showed Rivera arriving in the Camaro and later being joined by his parents, Juan Rivera and Kristie Alvarado. Footage appeared to show Juan retrieving a firearm from the vehicle and concealing it in his waistband, while Alvarado removed an unidentified object. Further evidence linked Rivera's uncle, Steven Alvarado, to the crime; he was found in possession of Albarran's cellphone and the Camaro's keys. Steven Alvarado was subsequently arrested on charges of tampering with evidence but was released on bond.
A murder warrant was issued for John Rivera in September 2023. After a search lasting more than two months, Rivera surrendered to authorities at the Dallas County Jail on October 13, 2023, accompanied by his attorney. His father, Juan Rivera, was arrested on October 24, 2023, by the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force and charged with tampering with evidence, specifically for allegedly hiding the firearm used in the murder. As of the latest reports, John Rivera remains in custody facing a murder charge with a bond set at $500,000, while Juan Rivera is also detained on charges related to evidence tampering.
The arrests have provided some solace to Albarran's family, who continue to seek justice for their loved one. Albarran is remembered as a father of six, a brother to five siblings, and a son to his 71-year-old mother. His sisters have expressed a desire for the truth to emerge and for those responsible to be held accountable, emphasizing the irreplaceable loss their family has suffered.
