EDINBURG — The Weslaco resident accused of shooting and killing a 75-year-old man while he slept appeared in court Monday morning as his defense attorney and prosecutors work toward a plea — or a trial.
Joe Armendaris, 36, is accused of firing the bullet that killed Jose Magana at his residence on Aug. 19, 2021. He is charged with manslaughter.
Armendaris’ attorney, Regina Richardson, asked the court for a reset and according to court documents, the case has been pushed back until late March for a plea deadline or a trial announcement.
According to the initial Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook post regarding the incident, deputies responded to west of FM 1015 of Mile 10 North in rural Weslaco around 1:56 a.m. regarding a gunshot wound victim.
Upon arrival, deputies found the Magana being treated by EMS but he was already dead.
“According to witness statements, the decedent was laying down in bed when he was awoken by a sharp pain,” the post said. “He began to check himself and observed he was bleeding.”
The probable cause affidavit states that authorities met with Magana’s wife, Elva, who stated that she and Jose were asleep in their bedroom when Jose woke her up complaining of pain to his leg.
Elva got up to help Jose and noticed he was bleeding at which point she called for help.
Investigators found a bullet hole in the bedroom’s window along with a projectile on the floor and determined that the bullet came from outside.
Authorities managed to obtain video surveillance footage that showed a dark-colored truck driving by Magana’s home and later identified the driver as Armendaris.
When investigators met with Armendaris, he provided a voluntary statement saying that he shot his gun toward the street while traveling on Mile 10 North but added that he had no intention of shooting Magana.
Armendaris is also facing two charges unrelated to the manslaughter case of which they are assault causing bodily injury and indecency with a child sexual contact. Both alleged offenses occurred last year.
He bailed out of the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center for the manslaughter charge on a $100,000 cash surety bond a month after he was booked.
Armendaris bailed out once more for the assault and indecency charges on $45,000 in cash surety bonds on Oct. 1.
