In the late hours of a September night in 2015, a life was tragically cut short in Mishawaka, Indiana. Roberto Valencia Teneria, a 46-year-old Hispanic male, had built a life for himself in the city since moving from Guanajuato, Mexico, in 1990. Those who knew him remembered him as a hardworking man, proud of his accomplishments and always willing to lend a hand to someone in need.
On the evening of September 5th, Teneria was at the 331 Inn on Union Street.
An altercation broke out between him and another patron, 64-year-old Richard Bonnett. As the bar was nearing closing time and Teneria was getting ready to leave, the argument escalated in a fatal way. Bonnett produced a gun and shot Teneria. The single gunshot wound proved to be fatal, and Roberto Valencia Teneria died at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrest of Richard Bonnett. He was subsequently charged in connection with Teneria's death. In the ensuing legal proceedings, Bonnett pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless homicide. This plea acknowledged that the killing was not intentional but was the result of reckless actions. In December of 2015, a judge sentenced Richard Bonnett to six years in prison for his role in the death of Roberto Valencia Teneria.
