On March 12, 2023, at approximately 7:10 p.m., Dallas police responded to a shooting call at an apartment in the 3500 block of Villaverde Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered four individuals—two men and two women—deceased from gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as 18-year-old Juan Diego Cruz, 24-year-old Lupe Cruz, 20-year-old Jasmine Borjas Santos, and 21-year-old Fatima Guadalupe Alvarado Fuentes. An infant was also found in the apartment but was unharmed.
Investigators quickly identified two suspects: 18-year-old Artemio Maldonado and 20-year-old Azucena Sanchez. Sanchez was the ex-girlfriend of victim Juan Diego Cruz, and they had been involved in a contentious custody dispute over their child. Family members reported that Sanchez and Maldonado had previously made threats against Juan.
Surveillance footage from the apartment complex showed a vehicle matching Maldonado's leaving the scene around 1:11 a.m. on the day of the murders. Later that evening, around 9:30 p.m., police located the suspect vehicle approximately a mile from the crime scene. Maldonado and Sanchez were apprehended as they approached the car and were taken into custody without incident. A handgun was found between the driver's seat and the door of the vehicle.
During police interviews, Maldonado admitted to shooting all four victims. He stated that he and Sanchez had broken into the apartment through a back bedroom window, leading to a confrontation with the occupants, during which he opened fire. Sanchez claimed they had entered the apartment intending to steal money, believing no one was home, and that the shootings occurred after they were confronted by the victims. Both suspects were charged with capital murder and booked into the Dallas County Jail.
The infant found at the scene was taken to a hospital for evaluation and subsequently placed in the care of Child Protective Services. The tragic incident has left the community in shock, with family members and friends holding vigils to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
