URGENT UPDATE: Charges against the four suspects in the tragic death of 14-year-old Simon Cuevas have been significantly downgraded, raising serious public concern. Initially arrested for capital murder, the suspects now face third-degree felony charges of injury to a child with bodily injury.
On April 16, Cuevas was brutally beaten and shot shortly after leaving San Antonio Independent School District’s Brewer Academy. Surveillance footage captured a group of five individuals following him just before the attack at the intersection of Elmendorf Street and Merida Street. After the incident, all five fled the scene and were subsequently arrested.
Legal expert Karl Alexander, a local defense attorney, explained the potential reasons for the downgrade. “There are multiple ways in which this can happen,” he stated, emphasizing that the public often misunderstands the legal process.
Alexander noted that factors such as premature police action, flaws in evidence, or lack of cooperation from witnesses could lead to lesser charges. “You have to make an arrest and get someone off the street,” he said, highlighting the urgency that can sometimes lead authorities to act too quickly.
Among the suspects, Fernando Flores and Andrew Cantu, both 18, remain unsentenced. Meanwhile, two teenage brothers aged 14 and 15 received sentences on November 6 to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department based on their progress and behavior. Notably, Caesar Tijerina, aged 20, tragically died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in August.
Alexander expressed shock at the drastic change in charges, saying, “It seems very shocking that someone can be arrested for capital murder and then suddenly a charge that is significantly less serious than that actually gets filed.”
The community is left grappling with the implications of this legal decision, as many expected the charges to reflect the severity of the crime. As the investigation continues, the focus now shifts to how these changes will affect the victims’ families and the broader community.
Officials urge those with information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation. With public sentiment running high, many are calling for justice for Simon Cuevas and clarity on how the legal system handles such critical cases.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story, as it unfolds in real-time.
