AUSTIN, Texas — A man accused of fatally shooting a 15-year-old following an altercation at a southeast Austin home last year has been convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
A Travis County jury found 39-year-old Victor Orellana-Carranza guilty of murder on Aug. 18 in the death of 15-year-old Neithan Jadiel Montenegro-Chavarria, according to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.
Jury selection began Aug. 14, with prosecutors beginning to present evidence Aug. 17. The following day, jurors convicted Orellana-Carranza and sentenced him to 40 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The case stems from a deadly shooting on May 4, 2025, in the 5700 block of Hammermill Run in southeast Austin.
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Austin police responded around 6:41 a.m. and found Montenegro-Chavarria suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said Orellana-Carranza had gone to the home looking for his 2-year-old son, whose mother lived there. According to authorities, Orellana-Carranza assaulted the child’s mother, leading to a physical altercation involving her teenage son and Montenegro-Chavarria.
Orellana-Carranza then left the home, returned with a firearm, and opened fire at the two teenagers, striking Montenegro-Chavarria, investigators said.
Police located and arrested Orellana-Carranza later that day. According to the DA’s office, he confessed to shooting Montenegro-Chavarria and trying to flee the country.
A Travis County grand jury indicted him on a murder charge in July 2025.
“Our office hopes this conviction honors the victim, whose life was tragically cut short, and that it continues to help his family heal,” Travis County District Attorney José Garza said. “We are grateful to our team and law enforcement partners for their tireless work on this case, which ultimately delivered justice for the victim and his family.”