Who is Hileberto Valtierra? California man gets 230 years for fatally shooting ex's teen son, injuring another
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA: A California man has been sentenced to 230 years in prison for fatally shooting his former girlfriend's teenage son aged 16 and injuring her other son.
Hileberto Valtierra, 37, has been found guilty of second-degree murder over the death of Angel Trejo in August. Hileberto was also convicted of second-degree attempted murder for shooting Angel's brother Esteban, 20, in the back and three counts of assault with a firearm, reports People.
The incident took place on December 9 last year when the mother of the boys, Leticia Rodriguez-Alejo, was moving out of the San Joaquin apartment that she shared with Hileberto with her two sons and brother. Leticia had broken up with Hileberto at the time she was moving out.
Prosecutors revealed that Hileberto had started to hurl insults at Leticia when Angel intervened and told Valtierra to stop disrespecting his mother. However, Hileberto paid no heed to Angel and continued to insult Leticia. At one point, Angel's brother, Esteban, stepped in and started to wrestle with Hileberto.
During the confrontation, Hileberto's niece reportedly handed him a gun and he pointed it at Leticia, her uncle, and daughter. He then allegedly fired a shot toward's Angel's uncle and then fired three shots at Angel, which hit him in the left shoulder, right thigh, and head. Angel's brother Esteban was also shot twice, including once in his back, as he tried to flee. Hileberto then ran away from and disposed of the gun before being arrested the following morning from his cousin's house in Salinas.
During his sentencing which took place on Tuesday, September 22, Hileberto tried to deny that he was guilty. He said, "Everyone knows that I did not shoot Angel, I did not kill Angel. If you were there, then you know. If you weren't, then all you know is a story," ABC reports.
The judge, Alvin Harrell III told Hileberto, "To say that you didn't do it when you ran away from the scene, disposed of the firearm, lied to your cousin, lied to the officers, lied to the jurors, is not believable at all." Deputy District Attorney Tim Galston said, "It is a perfect insight into the defendant to go ahead and attempt to manipulate one last time in this court."
The murder and attempted murder had occurred at the Garden Valley apartments where a handful of witnesses had seen the crime. Even Hileberto's own family members said that was the gunman except they believed he had shot in self-defense. Judge Alvin shared that he did not have any compassion for the accused at all. "It's difficult for me at times to sentence people to prison, but in this case, it's not hard at all," he said.
Prosecutor Tim Galston told People, "I wish Angel’s family the absolute best, and I hope I was able to satisfy their desire for justice for what [Valtierra] did to Angel, in addition to what he did to all of them."