by | Published
GALVESTON, Texas - A Galveston County jury sentenced a 41-year-old San Antonio man to 28 years in prison after finding him guilty of murdering one brother-in-law and shooting another through a glass door at a Kemah short-term rental.
James Nathan Malo was convicted Aug. 27 of murder in the death of Richard Samora and aggravated assault of a family member with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury in the shooting of Roland Samora.
The jury sentenced Malo to 28 years for murder and 10 years for aggravated assault. He was also assessed a $7,500 fine.
The shootings happened in October 2025 after Malo and members of his wife's family gathered at a short-term rental in Kemah for a weekend fishing trip.
Testimony from the surviving brother indicated there had been no previous violence between Malo and his brothers-in-law before an argument broke out between the brothers and their sister, who is Malo's wife.
Malo eventually locked the two brothers out of the rental home.
Prosecutors showed jurors surveillance video from outside the residence that they said captured Malo going to his vehicle to retrieve a gun approximately 10 minutes before the shootings.
The video then showed Richard and Roland Samora knocking on doors as they attempted to get back inside to retrieve their belongings so they could leave, according to prosecutors.
When the brothers reached a back door, Richard Samora could be heard on the recording confronting Malo about the firearm.
"You going to shoot me? Put that gun up," Richard said shortly before the gunfire, according to evidence presented at trial.
Malo then shot both brothers through the glass door while they were standing outside the residence, prosecutors said. Richard Samora was killed, while Roland Samora survived.
Surveillance footage also showed Malo leaving the house minutes later and being confronted by an off-duty federal law enforcement officer who was staying at a neighboring short-term rental.
The federal agent held Malo at gunpoint until Kemah police officers arrived.
During a recorded interview with Kemah Detective Alonzo Soza, Malo told investigators he did not believe his brothers-in-law were going to physically harm anyone, according to prosecutors.
Jurors heard two days of testimony from responding officers, relatives who witnessed events surrounding the shootings, the off-duty federal officer and Soza.
The jury began deliberations Wednesday afternoon and returned guilty verdicts Thursday morning.
During the punishment phase, prosecutors presented evidence that Malo had previously been placed on probation in Bexar County for strangling a former girlfriend.
Jurors sentenced Malo to 28 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Richard Samora's murder and 10 years for the aggravated assault of Roland Samora.
