URGENT UPDATE: The charges against the four suspects arrested in connection with the tragic death of 14-year-old Simon Cuevas have been significantly downgraded. Initial capital murder charges have now been reduced to a third-degree felony charge of injury to a child with bodily injury, raising serious questions about the evidence and prosecutorial decisions in this case.
On April 16, Cuevas was brutally beaten and shot shortly after leaving the San Antonio Independent School District’s Brewer Academy with a group of students. The incident occurred at the corner of Elmendorf Street and Merida Street, with surveillance footage capturing five individuals following Cuevas as he exited the campus. Following the attack, all five suspects were arrested.
Local defense attorney Karl Alexander, who is not involved in this case, provided insight into the downgrading of charges. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the benefit of viewing all of the evidence in this case. There are multiple ways in which this can happen,” Alexander stated, highlighting the complexities of legal proceedings.
Two of the suspects, Fernando Flores and Andrew Cantu, both aged 18, remain without sentencing. Meanwhile, two teenage brothers, aged 14 and 15, were sentenced on November 6 to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department based on their progress and behavior. Notably, Caesar Tijerina, aged 20, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in August, adding another layer of tragedy to this case.
Alexander expressed his shock at the shift in charges, emphasizing the public’s concern. “It seems very shocking that someone can be arrested for capital murder and then suddenly a charge that is significantly less serious gets filed,” he remarked. He explained that several factors could contribute to such a downgrade, including potential flaws in the evidence or premature police action. “You have to make an arrest and get someone off the street. And then as the investigation unfolds, you realize that perhaps we jumped to a conclusion,” he added.
The lack of witnesses and conversation surrounding the incident is another possible reason for the change in charges. “If no one talked and they have nothing to demonstrate that everybody knew that gun was there, that’s where you’re going to run into a stumbling block,” Alexander warned.
The community is left grappling with the implications of these developments. The family of Simon Cuevas continues to seek justice and closure in this heartbreaking case. As the legal proceedings unfold, many are left wondering what the next steps will be for the remaining suspects and the justice system’s ability to address this tragedy adequately.
Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story as it continues to develop.
