One of the men involved in the death of a 6-year-old Mission girl is set to go to trial Tuesday if the defense and prosecutors are able to select their jury Monday afternoon.
Alton resident Marco Antonio Reyes Chairez, 45, is accused of shooting and killing Yvone Adele Mireles during a drive-by shooting in rural Mission on Feb. 23, 2021.
At Monday’s hearing, state District Judge Noe Gonzalez told the defense and prosecutor that the court had a jury panel ready for selection and all agreed it could be done before the end of the day.
Following the agreement, the court had several witnesses, which included the victim’s mother, Juliana Balderas, sworn in prior to the trial.
Balderas was seen holding a teddy bear, which she carried with her as she was sworn in.
Also in court were co-defendants Alton resident Juan Ramon Garcia Olaguez, Edinburg resident Daniel Guzman Flores and Mission resident William Garcia, who is the only one out on bond.
The evening of the shooting, Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra confirmed that Yvone was shot and killed in her home as she watched television with her younger brother.
Guerra said that deputies responded to a call reporting deadly conduct at about 5:07 p.m. in the 2400 block of Valencia Avenue.
“She died instantly,” Guerra said that day.
Police say that around four vehicles showed up and fired what they believe to have been about 30 rounds into the house.
The four suspects were eventually indicted on June 7, 2021, and arraigned the following Monday.
Balderas had confronted Chairez in a hearing in September, when she shouted at him saying that he knew what he did.
The grieving mother described her daughter as her “first love” and said Yvone loved to make TikTok videos, dancing and playing with her little brother, who was referred to as Panchito.
One prosecutor told The Monitor that the trial should be underway Tuesday morning if the jury is managed to be selected.
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