18-year-old found guilty of July 2023 murder in South Bend
MGN
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Trejo was found guilty of (Aiding) Murder, a Felony, and Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a Level 1 Felony.
The sentencing range for Murder is 45 to 65 years, while the sentencing range for a Level 1 felony is 20 to 40 years.
Trejo's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 11, at 10 a.m.
BACKGROUND
According to the probable cause affidavit, on July 10, 2023, officers with the South Bend Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter notification in the 500 block of South Carlisle Street.
Police arrived and found a teen, later identified as Hernandez-Acosta, with gunshots wounds to his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Documents state witnesses known to law enforcement were identified and gave a statement to the police.
The witnesses stated they were with Hernandez-Acosta. prior to the shooting and that he had ongoing issues with Edwin Torres-Becerril, who was later charged with Murder for the shooting of Hernandez-Acosta.
The witnesses told police Hernandez-Acosta and Torres-Becerril had plans to confront one another that night.
While they were waiting for Torres-Becerril to show up, witnesses told police they overheard a conversation Hernandez-Acosta was having over the phone. Witnesses overheard a subject on the other line talking to him saying, “I'm going to f***ing kill you.”
Police later obtained call detail records for Torres-Becerril’s cell phone. Police say the data shows Torres-Becerril called Hernandez-Acosta three times moments before the shooting.
Witnesses told police they saw two unknown men wearing all black shoot Hernandez-Acosta while they were in the alley walking south from Huron Street.
Detectives reviewed the ShotSpotter report from the incident and confirmed that there were two different firearms that fired a total of 16 rounds from where the two shooters were standing.
Investigators then collected video surveillance near the area. Authorities say the video depicts two individuals running from the scene wearing masks and hiding in the backyard of a residence just south of where the shooting occurred.
One of the individuals on the video is seen wearing a T-shirt with a “CK” logo on front of it.
The two are then seen exiting the back of the residence a few hours later, walking towards the front of the house.
Police say the two individuals are seen without masks at that point and their faces are visible.
A detective observed the subjects’ faces and recognized them to be Torres-Becerril and Esequiel Trejo Jr. from previous in-person interviews and photos.
Police then obtained call detail records and location data for Trejo’s cell phone. Authorities say location data shows Trejo’s phone to be near the scene of the shooting at the time of the shooting.
Official documents state video surveillance obtained from Trejo’s residence also shows an individual leaving his home just prior to the shooting, wearing a mask and a shirt with the “CK” logo on front.