Felix Rocha was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for the murder of Rafael Fuentes
According to court documents Felix Rocha was involved in a physical altercation with Rafael Fuentes a week before the murder. On the day of the murder Rocha would walk up to Rafael Fuentes and shoot him twice in the head
Felix Rocha would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Felix Rocha Photos
Felix Rocha Now
Name | Rocha, Felix | |
TDCJ Number | 999291 | |
Date of Birth | 5/7/76 | |
Date Received | 12/16/98 | |
Age (when Received) | 22 | |
Education Level (Highest Grade Completed) | 4 years | |
Date of Offense | 11/26/97 | |
Age (at the time of Offense) | 18 | |
County | Harris | |
Race | Hispanic | |
Gender | Male | |
Hair Color | Black | |
Height (in Feet and Inches) | 5′ 1″ | |
Weight (in Pounds) | 142 | |
Eye Color | Brown | |
Native County | Unknown | |
Native State | Mexico |
Felix Rocha Case
The evidence shows the following: On November 26, 1994, Rafael Fuentes, the decedent, was working as a security guard at La Camelia, a nightclub in Harris County. Reynaldo Munoz, who owned some pool tables at the nightclub, arrived at around 7:00 p.m. Munoz talked to Fuentes for ten to fifteen minutes while Fuentes stood at the door to the club. Munoz noticed that Fuentes was wearing a holster containing a gun. Two men, a tall man and a short man, moved quickly toward Fuentes. Munoz moved out of the way as Fuentes stopped the men to conduct a search. Munoz saw the tall man raise his arms as if to permit a frisk. Then Munoz watched the short man pull out a gun, point the gun at Fuentes, demand Fuentes’ gun,3 and reach for Fuentes’ gun. At that point, Munoz began to flee the scene and did not see what happened next. As he fled, Munoz heard two or three gunshots.
A police radio dispatch informed patrol officer Michael Junco of a shooting in progress. Junco arrived at the scene to find Fuentes’ body with gunshot wounds. Junco noticed that there was no gun in Fuentes’ holster
The tall man was later identified as Virgilio Maldonado. The short man was believed by law enforcement officials to be Felix Rocha Houston Police Officer X.E. Avila interviewed appellant. In his oral statements, appellant gave the following version of events: Appellant and Fuentes had been involved in an altercation at some time prior to the murder. Fuentes had beaten and otherwise embarrassed appellant, and appellant had vowed to get revenge. On the night of the killing, appellant and Maldonado confronted Fuentes. Felix Rocha intended to take Fuentes’ gun to embarrass him and show that Fuentes was not a good security guard. Felix Rocha pulled his own gun on Fuentes, and Fuentes grabbed appellant’s gun. Then appellant and Fuentes struggled over appellant’s gun, and appellant’s gun was shot once during the struggle. Felix Rocha did not know whether the shot hit Fuentes or simply went into the air. Maldonado shot Fuentes several times to protect appellant. Maldonado then took Fuentes’ gun, and appellant and Maldonado fled the scene.
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-criminal-appeals/1172496.html