The jury took less than one hour to find 36 year old Jose Mauricio guilty, then sentenced him to 45 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to the district attorney’s office, Mauricio said he shot the victim in self defense because he believed the victim had a weapon.
Prosecutors also noted Mauricio was a gang member and had served time for burglary and drug convictions.
News release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office:
Jose Mauricio, 36, of Bryan, Texas was sentenced by a jury in the 272nd District Court to 45 years in prison for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and 10 years for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
The offenses stem from a shooting that occurred in 2018 at the former Billar El Tapatio on William J. Bryan Pkwy in Bryan.
On June 18 2018, Bryan Police Department officers responded to Billar El Tapatio after hearing shots fired. Almost simultaneously, other Bryan Police Department Officers were called to St. Joseph’s Hospital after a gunshot victim arrived for medical attention. The victim was shot in the leg by a man he new through a family member. The victim had no prior conflicts with the shooter.
Witnesses were able to describe the vehicle that the defendant fled the scene in immediately after shooting. They were also able to describe his clothing and known associates.
The suspect vehicle described by witnesses drove past the bar moments later and was stopped by Bryan Police. Occupants confirmed that they had been at the bar earlier in the night but denied any knowledge of the shooting. The defendant was not in the vehicle at that time.
Officers interviewed the defendant later that morning. He confirmed he was at the bar but denied any knowledge of the shooting. At trial, the defendant testified that he was the shooter but believed the victim had a weapon and that he acted in self defense. This story was quickly disbelieved by the jury, who delivered a guilty verdict in less than a hour.
The defendant, a known member of the Latin Kings criminal street gang, has prior convictions for Burglary of a Habitation and a 20 year prison sentence in 2002 for Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance.