El Paso, TX – A Texas man was sentenced to 27 years in prison for shooting and killing his uncle and injuring his aunt outside Jalisco Cafe in 2022. 23-year-old Angel Hinojos was found guilty of murder following a jury trial, according to the El Paso District Attorney’s Office.
Fatal Shooting in Segundo Barrio Neighborhood
The incident occurred on May 29, 2022, when Hinojos allegedly shot his aunt and uncle, Maria and Jesus Lopez, outside the Jalisco Cafe in El Paso’s Segundo Barrio. While the aunt was wounded, she survived the attack. His uncle, Jesus Lopez, was shot four times and later died from his injuries. At the time, Hinojos reportedly lived with his uncle, authorities said.
Jury Trial and Deliberations
The jury trial began on August 12, 2025, featuring witness and expert testimony. By August 19, the jury had deliberated for three hours before finding Hinojos guilty of murder. During sentencing, the jury concluded that the defendant was not acting out of sudden passion but had intentionally committed the act.
District Attorney James Montoya stated, “It was a choice by the defendant to shoot and kill his uncle in the middle of the street on a Sunday afternoon… I give condolences to the Lopez family, who lost their loved one and testified against another one.”
Sentencing Outcome
Following deliberations, Hinojos was sentenced to 27 years in prison, reflecting the jury’s finding of intentional murder rather than a crime committed in self-defense or sudden passion. Authorities emphasized the premeditated nature of the attack, marking it as a serious act of violence within the community…