A 29-year-old Peñitas man accused of gunning down a 31-year-old man while looking for drugs at a Mission residence pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon to a charge of murder.
A Hidalgo County grand jury indicted Hector Javier Gonzalez on the charge on May 5 for allegations that he shot and killed Edgar Treviño at a home at 3602 Tulipan St.
An affidavit for his arrest alleged Gonzalez went to the home with a black shotgun. He was looking for drugs before ordering other people inside the residence to go outside and get into a blue Ford Expedition before fleeing the scene, the affidavit further stated.
Neighbors told responding officers they could see a body lying on the floor of the home after several people left in the vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Police found Treviño in the kitchen and living room area facing up with a single shot to the abdomen.
Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene.
During a search of the house, officers found marijuana, drug paraphernalia, scales and a small amount of a white powdery substance.
The original caller told police they heard a loud bang following arguing in the home.
Three others were charged with failure to report a felony resulting in death. They include 26-year-old Mission resident Jacqueline Duenes; 25-year-old Edinburg resident Roberto Rafael Martinez; and 28-year-old Palmview resident Noe Ochoa.
During an interview with police, Ochoa said Gonzalez threatened everyone with the firearm and told her, Ochoa and Martinez to step outside.
Once outside, Ochoa heard Treviño yell followed by a single gunshot, according to the affidavit.
That document alleges Gonzalez told everyone to get in the vehicle and drop him off in an area near Trosper Road and 3 Mile Line. The affidavit also said Gonzalez told them he would kill them and their families if they said anything about what happened.
Duenes has since bailed out of jail on a $10,000 bond while both Martinez and Ochoa have already plead guilty to the charge.
Martinez received one-year community supervision with a one-year suspended sentence while Ochoa received 34 days time served.
Police, however, arrested Ochoa again on May 17 on numerous charges including engaging in organized criminal activity, evading arrest, smuggling of people causing serious bodily injury or death, burglary, theft and criminal trespass.
Those charges are unrelated to Treviño’s killing and Ochoa is back in jail.
As for Gonzalez, he remains in the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on a $1.5 million bond on the murder charge, as well as another $17,500 in bonds on an unrelated assault on a family member impeding breath and two drug charges.
Treviño’s death is considered the first known homicide in Hidalgo County this year.
