Christopher Powell, aged 36, was declared guilty of murdering Ibrahim Suarez, aged 37, by a Bexar County jury on February 5, 2024, following a trial in the 399th District Court. Rather than opting for a jury to decide his punishment, Powell chose to have the presiding judge determine his sentence. Consequently, he was sentenced to 40 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The incident leading to the conviction occurred on April 9, 2021, when Powell and Ibrahim Suarez engaged in a verbal altercation at a Converse gas station. Following their encounter, Powell drove away but stopped at a red traffic light. At this point, Suarez, who was behind Powell, approached Powell's vehicle. Despite initially walking away, Suarez turned back towards Powell's vehicle after Powell said something from his window. Powell then fired three shots, hitting Suarez three times near the rear door of the vehicle.
"Christopher Powell rolled his window down and shot and killed a man who was walking away," said Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Joe Gonzales, "Today, the jury told us that Mr. Suarez died needlessly and provided justice for Ibrahim Suarez and his family."
