One murder case and two capital murder cases are scheduled to be brought before Webb County District Court judges this week.
René Salas, 36, is scheduled for a hearing on the status of jury selection in the 406th District Court on Tuesday, according to online court records.
Salas is charged with two counts of aggravated battery against a public servant, one count of assault on a family member, one count of injuring a child / elderly person with intent to cause bodily injury, and one count of attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer.
He remains behind bars in custody on a total bail of $ 590,000, with the highest bail for the capital murder charge of a police officer (criminal intent) set at $ 250,000.
At around 4:25 a.m. on July 20, 2019, Laredo police were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at TownePlace Suites by Marriott, 6519 Arena Boulevard, according to the arrest affidavit.
Officers were told that a man armed with a pistol had possible suicidal tendencies, according to the arrest affidavit. An officer met with Salas’s wife, who testified that her husband had assaulted her and their 11-year-old son, police said.
She described Salas as shirtless and wearing blue jeans, and possibly armed.
Officers searched for René Salas, and around 4:55 a.m., Sergeant Sergio Mendiola, Officer Wesley Paredes, and Officer Félix Sarmiento contacted Salas near Toyota of Laredo at 6324 Bob Bullock Loop.
In the 341 District Court, David R. Garza, Jr., is scheduled for a guilty plea hearing. He is accused of fatally shooting Laredo Heat coach José Eduardo Salinas Jr., 22, in the face in 2018.
According to online court records, Garza’s attorney, Marcel Notzon, drafted a plea agreement that he will submit to the Webb County District Attorney’s Office.
The case unfolded shortly before 2 a.m. on March 6, 2018, at a meeting in the 1100 block of Topaz Trail in the Tiara De San Isidro Subdivision.
Laredo police said Garza told them he was holding a hunting rifle when he shot and hit Salinas in the face. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He allegedly told LPD communications staff “that he had shot and killed a subject he identified as ‘Lalo,'” says an arrest affidavit.
On Wednesday, Ronald Anthony Burgos-Avilés, 31, is scheduled for a hearing on the status of his case in the 49th District Court.
Burgos-Avilés is charged with two counts of capital murder in the murder of Grizelda Hernández, 27, and her son, Dominic Alexander Hernández. They were killed in April 2018 near Father Charles McNaboe Park in northwest Laredo.
In December, 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez ordered that the portion of the jury that qualifies for jury selection begin on January 10, 2022. Jury selection will begin approximately one week later.
In a hearing on December 16, the 49th District Court judge rejected a motion to stay proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The motion states that the attorneys have been unable to fulfill the defendant’s professional responsibilities.
From July to September 19, the defense attorneys had no contact with Burgos-Avilés.
“This period includes a time when Mr. Burgos-Avilés reportedly contracted COVID-19 and was in quarantine,” the motion reads. “The communication from the Webb County Jail defense attorney regarding the illness and quarantine of Mr. Burgos-Avilés received no response.”
Additionally, the defendant’s contraction of COVID-19 demonstrated the conflict raised by the investigation, the motion says.
“Visiting Mr. Burgos-Avilés or witnesses in person puts the health of the defense team at risk,” according to the motion.
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