In Fort Worth, a man has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2024 shooting deaths of two people.
Final arguments were heard in a Tarrant County courtroom in the murder trial of Alfredo Cantu Martinez.
Martinez stood trial in the deaths of his cousin, 26-year-old Martin Hernandez, and 24-year-old Michael Cantu. Jurors deliberated briefly before returning a guilty verdict.
The judge sentenced Martinez to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Outside the courtroom, family members said they found some relief in the outcome.
“I’m very happy with the outcome that we got. The jurors did their job. The judge and lawyers did their job,” said Fortunata Gonzalez, Michael Cantu’s aunt.
According to the Tarrant County District Attorney, Martinez shot and killed Hernandez and Cantu as the three men spoke in the alleyway of Cantu’s home.
It remains unclear what the discussion was about. Cantu’s girlfriend, who was sitting inside a car nearby, said she heard gunshots coming from the alley.
Martinez’s attorneys claimed self-defense, but jurors rejected that argument.
Esparanza Lopez, Cantu’s mother, gave an emotional victim impact statement after sentencing. She said Cantu was her firstborn son.
“I’m just happy because he got justice,” Lopez said. “He’s going to go away for a very long time. My son can rest in peace.”