The Murder of Jesse Richards
For this case, I watched an episode of True Conviction. It’s season 4 episode 5, titled ‘Life is a Battlefield.’
An Iraq war veteran is killed at a San Antonio bus stop.
Background
Jesse Lee Richards, or Jesse Lee Hickmon, grew up in the small town of Geneva, Nebraska. Jesse had wanted to join the Army for awhile, and enlisted after high school. He went on to serve three tours in Iraq, before settling down in San Antonio, Texas.
After serving, Jesse struggled with his mental health. However, he seemed to be doing better after he moved to Texas. Jesse was described as fun-loving, happy, and unique.
Jesse Richards
The 911 Calls
On December 20, 2015, several 911 calls came into the San Antonio police around 10pm. The callers said that they had heard gunshots, and that a man was lying in the street.
Detective Ruben Perez arrived at the scene. Jesse had been as he sat the bus stop on Porter Street. He then traveled about 20 yards, before falling onto the ground. He had been shot in the chest.
Jesse had left his job at a local restaurant, and was waiting for his last bus to go home. Jesse’s food container had also been found at the scene. His family and friends were devastated by the news of his death.
The Surveillance Footage
The police canvassed the area, but neighbors said that they had only heard the gunshots, and hadn’t seen anything else.
Detective Perez was able to find two surveillance cameras from a restaurant just across the street from the bus stop. On the surveillance footage, two males can be seen walking towards the bus stop, around 9:38pm. Just a few minutes later, one of the individuals ran past the camera in the opposite direction.
One male was dark-skinner, and the other was light-skinned. The police turned to the media for help, and released the surveillance footage. They hoped that someone would recognize the two males.
There were a few tips that came in because there had been robberies in the area. The tips didn’t lead anywhere, and the case stalled.
A Break in the Case
In February 2016, a man named Juan Torres contacted Detective Perez. Juan told him that his brother, Daniel Torres, had been the shooter.
Juan and Daniel had been living on the same street where the murder took place. Detective Perez had actually spoken with the Torres brothers on December 30, when he canvassed the area. Juan and Daniel had said that they hadn’t seen anything. Detective Perez said that Daniel had stared him down, and that it made the hairs on his neck stand up.
Detective Perez asked Juan if he knew what Daniel had been wearing that night. Juan said it was jean shorts, a jacket, and a red beanie. On the surveillance footage, Daniel wasn’t wearing the beanie until he ran away after Jesse was shot.
Juan was able to tell the police that Daniel hid then gun underneath a sofa cushion, but it wasn't there anymore. Detective Perez asked Juan who the second individual was. He only referred to him as ‘Stitch.’
Just a few days after Juan’s confession, Daniel was arrested for assaulting his mother, and was questioned. Daniel denied being the shooter, but admitted to being there that night. He didn’t tell Detective Perez who the other individual was.
Daniel Torres was charged with murder.
Brother vs. Brother
In March 2016, the police finally learned who the second individual was. It was David Zuniga, the 17-year-old half-brother of Juan and Daniel.
David had been living with Juan and Daniel in 2015, but by 2016, was living in a facility in Houston. David had spoken to a CPS worker about the murder.
Detective Perez traveled to Houston to speak with David. David wasn’t a murder suspect at the time, but a witness. That soon changed when David told the police that he was the shooter.
David said he and Daniel had planned to rob someone that night. Daniel had said that they should rob Jesse, who had been sitting at the bus stop.
David said they walked up to Jesse, and asked him to give them everything. David said Jesse put his hands up, but he panicked, and shot him.
Detective Perez made the decision to not charge David with murder, and allowed him to walk out the room. He was arrested just a few days later, and charged with murder.
A Tale of Two Trials
The police weren’t sure who the actual shooter was. David and Daniel were tried separately. In Texas, two individuals have the opportunity for a severance.
David Zuniga was tried first. The prosecution believed that they had more evidence against David. Before trial, a photo of a .32mm handgun was found on David’s Facebook. A .32mm is a very unique gun, and a .32mm shell casing had been found at the scene.
Juan was set to testify at David’s trial. He disappeared, and reappeared when the trial had already started. He admitted that he was ready to talk. Juan was able to tell the court that Daniel and David had planned to rob someone that night. With that, both Daniel and David were involved no matter who the shooter was. They had planned to rob someone, and a second felony was committed. They had to know someone would end up hurt when they brought a gun along with them. There is also a law in Texas, called the Law of Co-Conspirators, which means the police have a right to arrest two individuals who they believe had an agreement to commit a felony offense.
David was found guilty, and sentenced to life in prison.
At Daniel’s trial, David voluntarily agreed to testify. This time, he said Daniel was the shooter.
Daniel was also found guilty, and sentenced to 65 years in prison.
Daniel Torres
David Zuniga at trial
FINAL THOUGHTS
It seems like most people believe David was the shooter, however, Juan said that he believes it was Daniel. They both are just as guilty as the other, and an innocent man lost his life for no reason. Jesse deserved to live, and move on from his time in the Army. He was just getting his life back on track, and it’s heartbreaking that he died while waiting at the bus stop with his food.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/jesse-lee-richards-murder-where-are-david-zuniga-and-daniel-torres-now/
https://theancestory.com/texas-army-veteran-shot-to-death/
https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/surveillance-video-released-in-bus-stop-murder
