Prosecutors turn focus to evidence in child’s drive-by shooting death

EDINBURG — In addition to an evidence-laden day, a Hidalgo County sheriff’s deputy testified Friday afternoon that police began to learn names and information regarding the men who shot at a Mission home after taking one of the suspects into custody.

Deputy Miguel Lopez testified in the trial of William Garcia that co-defendant Daniel Guzman Flores, 47, began providing the details regarding that shooting, which claimed the life of 6-year-old Yvonne Adele Medeles on Feb. 23, 2021.

Garcia and Flores are both accused of shooting at the victim’s residence, located at 2403 Valencia Ave. in Mission.

Marco Antonio Reyes Chairez, another co-defendant and shooter, pleaded guilty to capital murder on April 4, 2023.

Juan Roman Garcia Olaguez pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of murder as part of a plea deal where he agreed to testify against Garcia.

On Friday, state prosecutors presented a plethora of evidence which included photographs and videos of the crime scene, DNA swabs and all the spent bullet casings that were recovered the day of the shooting.

A video of the crime scene showed the many markers needed to point out the casings found strewn about the street on the east side of the home, of which there were multiple 7.62 mm casings.

According to former Crime Scene Specialist Sandra Rangel, who worked for the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at the time, 7.62 mm bullets can be used in AK-47 rifles.

During his testimony, Lopez said that Medeles’ uncle, Oziel Balderas, positively identified Chairez and Flores in a photo lineup.

He added that they managed to find Flores due to the GMC truck he used to drive to the scene of the shooting. Once they found the truck, they managed to find Flores who began to provide information.

Lopez also stated that a man by the name of Juan Carlos Mireles spoke to him in the presence of his attorney and began to also provide information regarding Chairez’s whereabouts, which eventually led to his arrest.

Through the additional information given, police were led to a home located at 204 Linda St. in Alton. It was there that police spoke to William Garcia’s mother, Nancy Garcia, and were able to obtain William Garcia’s cellphone and clothing.

Trial proceedings are expected to continue Monday.

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