Testimony conflicts over shooter in trial over Mission child’s death

Juan Roman Garcia Olaguez

EDINBURG — A 47-year-old Alton man on Tuesday testified that the man on trial in the fatal drive-by shooting of a 6-year-old girl in Mission sprayed a residence with bullets from either an AK-47 or an AR-15.

The testimony from Juan Roman Garcia Olaguez, who has pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for his testimony, is the first to indicate the alleged role William Garcia played in the senseless act that left Yvonne Adele Medeles dead on Feb. 23, 2021.

Garcia has been on trial since Dec. 3. Olaguez pleaded guilty to murder on Dec. 2. In exchange for his testimony, he will be sentenced to between five and 30 years in prison.

Garcia has pleaded not guilty to charges of capital murder of a person under 10 years old and murder. He remains free on $125,000 in bonds.

The testimony contradicts that from Esteban Lopez, Medeles’ stepfather, who on Monday said that he witnessed 46-year-old Alton resident Marco Antonio Reyes Chairez pull out an AK-47 and shoot at the residence in the 2400 block of Valencia Avenue more than 20 times.

Lopez said Chairez dropped a handgun inside his vehicle before pulling out the AK-47 and opening fire.

“He looked like a psychopath,” Lopez said.

Chairez has since pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Lopez had been working out with Oziel Balderas, who was 14 years old at the time. Balderas got into an altercation with Chairez prior to the fatal shooting. Balderas is Medeles’ uncle.

Medeles died instantly as she watched television.

On Tuesday, Olaguez told jurors that he and Garcia were roommates and that they were living with a drug dealer who is supposedly a member of the Tri-City Bombers gang.

On the day of the shooting, Olaguez said that man contacted him around noon regarding Chairez and the altercation and told him to pick up Garcia and some guns from his home.

“His compadre had a problem,” Olaguez said.

He followed orders and drove his vehicle to the man’s home.

“Willy got on with the weapons,” Olaguez said, adding that he sat in the backseat.

Marco Antonio Reyes Chairez looks down after Yvonne Adele Medeles’ mother Juliana Balderas gave her impact statement Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Edinburg. (Xavier Alvarez | The Monitor)

They then went to Chairez’s mother’s house and Garcia got into Chairez’s vehicle, Olaguez said.

Another man — who Olaguez said was unarmed — was in his vehicle. That man has since died and was never charged.

Then the men went and pumped gas before going to another house where Chairez spoke to a man. When they left, a third vehicle had joined the caravan.

The driver of that vehicle is believed to be 47-year-old Edinburg resident Daniel Guzman Flores, who has pleaded not guilty to capital murder of a person under 10 years old and murder.

He remains held in the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on a total of $575,000 in bonds.

Daniel Guzman Flores

Once they arrived at the home, Olaguez said he didn’t even come to a stop. He told jurors Chairez got out of his vehicle and began firing a handgun while Garcia fired the rifle, though Olaguez said Garcia never got out of Chairez’s vehicle.

Olaguez said he immediately fled after gunfire erupted, adding that the people at the house shot back at them.

“Marcos had a problem with an individual at that home and he went there to fight them,” Olaguez said.

Olaguez said he never went with intent to shoot but agreed he’s responsible for the child’s death.

“If we need them, we fire them,” Olaguez said, recalling what Chairez told him about bringing guns.

Defense attorneys, meanwhile, said Olaguez is only testifying because he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life in prison. They also described the shooting as a case of self defense and said Olaguez has no idea who shot first.

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