Convicted Felon Sentenced to 50 years for Murder
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Aug 26, 2019, 0 Comments
Courtesy Yanira Deleon,
The District Attorney’s Office reports the guilty plea in its case against Rodrigo Garza De La Cruz, 34, for shooting and killing a 53-year-old man.
On September 14, 2017, the Laredo Police Department Communication Division received numerous calls of shots fired at the Ochoa Sanchez Park by Monterrey Avenue and East Locust Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered a male body laying face down by the basketball court of the park. He had several gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers made contact with witnesses who stated that they heard 7 to 10 gunshots and also saw the suspect shoot 53-year-old Reynaldo Flores. The suspect then approached an 81-year-old man while fleeing the scene threatening to kill the man if he did not drive him to Mexico.
The suspect was seen by witnesses fleeing in a maroon in color vehicle. Officers were able to track him down to a residence in the Cielito Lindo neighborhood. At the residence, the suspect barricaded himself and engaged in a three-hour standoff with police after eventually surrendering. The suspect was later identified as Rodrigo Garza De La Cruz.
Garza De La Cruz was subsequently arrested and charged with murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery, all first-degree felonies in the State of Texas.
Today, Rodrigo Garza De La Cruz plead guilty to murder before the 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez. He was sentenced to 50 years to serve and will begin his sentence immediately at the Texas Department of the Criminal Justice Correctional Institution Division.
Assistant District Attorney Rene Benavides prosecuted the case for the State.
