Francisco Lopez Jr., 36, was sentenced to 28 years behind bars for the 2019 murder of Guillermo Bernal Gomez, following a conviction handed down by a Travis County jury on May 17, as reported by KXAN. Lopez, who pleaded not guilty leading up to the trial had previously been charged in connection with the death of Gomez, 32, an Austin father of six.
Gomez met his tragic end on June 23, 2019, but the saga continued until Lopez's arrest by the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force on Feb. 11, 2020; he was subsequently indicted on March 23, 2020, with a jury eventually convicting him of first-degree murder this year, as stated by KVUE.
In a revelation from court documents, Lopez was implicated in a sinister plot allegedly linked to a cartel-related "green light" or hit, established on the debt-riddled shoulders of Gomez; this detail stemmed from a conversation Lopez had over the phone, which came to light after the murder, according to the same KVUE report.
An accomplice, Evan Zanders, was also entangled in this grim narrative, arrested on Feb. 4, 2020, and indicted for murder on same the day as Lopez, his role seemingly that of aiding Lopez in setting up a faux drug deal to lure Gomez to his untimely death, the ruse claimed two lives in its wake, one in breath and one in freedom, said the Travis County District Attorney's Office in an overview of these shattering events. Zanders pled guilty to his involvement on Jan. 23, 2023, opting for a path of penitence before the weight of justice.
As a coda to this dark chapter, Travis County District Attorney José Garza expressed gratitude towards those relentless in their pursuit of justice for Gomez, sharing, "Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victim," as quoted by KXAN. With the sentence set forth, communities watch as the gears of retribution grind slowly, yet inexorable, providing a semblance of solace amidst the echoes of a justice long-awaited.
