EL PASO, Texas — A 23-year-old man, Angel Hinojos, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for killing his uncle and injuring his aunt during a 2022 shooting outside Jalisco Cafe in El Paso’s Segundo Barrio.
On May 29, 2022, Hinojos opened fire on his relatives, Jesus and Maria Lopez, outside the restaurant. His uncle was shot four times and later died from his injuries, while his aunt was wounded but survived. At the time of the shooting, Hinojos had been living with his uncle.
The trial began on August 12, 2025, and the jury returned a guilty verdict for murder on August 19 after three hours of deliberation.
During the sentencing phase, the defense attempted to argue that the shooting occurred in a moment of sudden passion, but the jury rejected that claim. Hinojos was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
District Attorney James Montoya praised the verdict, stating, “This was not self-defense or sudden passion. It was a deliberate act. My condolences go to the Lopez family, who had the strength to testify in court against a relative.”
