TULSA COUNTY, OK — Jose Cardona-Perez, who was 16 years old when he fatally shot a man in September 2023, has been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Cardona-Perez was charged with the murder of Jorge Santos, who was killed behind a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Tulsa. According to court documents, surveillance footage from a nearby business captured Santos approaching a group of six individuals, followed by a physical altercation. During the fight, Cardona-Perez fired multiple shots, striking Santos once.
The teen remained in custody at the Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Home, where he made headlines earlier this year by becoming the first graduate from Tulsa Public Schools Special Facilities.
In April 2025, a jury found him guilty and recommended a life sentence. That sentence was formally issued on May 27, granting parole eligibility.
The case drew public attention due to the young age of the defendant, the fatal violence captured on camera, and his efforts to pursue education while incarcerated.
