Rio Bonito Road shooting: Man found guilty of capital murder in 2022 carjacking

Alleged gang member found guilty of capital murder

A man police say is an MS-13 gang member has been found guilty of capital murder.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - The second suspect charged in connection with a deadly 2022 carjacking has been found guilty of capital murder. 

Rio Bonito Road shooting: Second suspect found guilty in deadly carjacking

20-year-old Carlos Romero-Munoz was found guilty of capital murder by a judge for the shooting death of a woman in the Alief area. Romero-Munoz is an alleged MS-13 gang member.

20-year-old Carlos Romero-Munoz

Both sides gave closing arguments on Tuesday.

The defense asked the judge for a lesser charge, arguing this was a murder but not a capital murder. The defense said their client did not take anything from the victim and there was no conspiracy to rob her. 

However, the state argued this was a capital murder because there was a plan to rob and kill. 

Romero-Munoz was 17 at the time of the incident. He will face life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.

Back in March, his co-defendant, Jordan Montalvo, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

What's next:

In August 2022, 45 -year-old Sandra Montez was heading home from work to see her teenage son when she was allegedly shot multiple times during a carjacking.

In the courtroom, Sandra’s sister and nieces shared victim impact statements.

They got emotional, and the sister said Sandra loved life and was an excellent human being.

The niece said her heart is shattered and told the defendant he ruined their family’s life.

The family shared they're relieved they got justice.