by | Published
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - A Bexar County jury has convicted a man in the 2021 fatal shooting of a San Antonio tattoo artist, resulting in a 45-year prison sentence, prosecutors announced Thursday.
According to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office, 33-year-old Raymond Hernandez was sentenced by Melisa Peña in the 290th District Court after being found guilty of murdering 46-year-old Leonel Chavez.
Prosecutors said Chavez, a tattoo artist, was shot outside a South Side San Antonio home in April 2021.
Authorities said Hernandez had gone to the residence “to get a tattoo,” according to the district attorney’s office.
Investigators said Hernandez approached Chavez and shot him before fleeing the scene on foot.
Surveillance footage later captured Hernandez carrying the murder weapon less than a mile from the crime scene, prosecutors said.
Authorities were able to quickly identify Hernandez after an eyewitness at the residence reported hearing the gunshot, seeing Chavez collapse from his injuries, and confronting Hernandez immediately afterward.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Ross Lewis and Brandon Ramsey with assistance from Victim Advocate Amanda Vasquez and Investigator Jose Niño.
“Today’s conviction and sentencing uphold our commitment to holding offenders accountable and reassure our community that we will continue to work diligently to protect and serve,” Joe Gonzales said in a statement.
