Antonio Guzman, a 22-year-old Houston man accused of the capital murder of his uncle Jose Torres, made his initial court appearance today. Torres, a 37-year-old Spring Branch ISD police dispatcher, was found dead at his home in northwest Harris County last week. A judge has elected not to lower Guzman's bond, set at $200,000, which leaves him in custody at the Harris County Jail, as reported by KHOU.
Defense attorney Kimberly McTorry, representing Guzman, remarked after the court session that although her client allegedly confessed to the crime, “her client is still innocent until proven guilty.” McTorry plans to rigorously review the evidence provided by the state. “As soon as I receive all the evidence from the state, I will take a look at that and be sure that he was properly given his Miranda rights when he made the statement. Additionally, that law enforcement stayed within the bounds of the Constitution and did not violate his constitutional rights in any way when taking this statement,” McTorry told KHOU. Guzman is set to return to court on January 28.
Details from the investigation indicate Torres did not show up to pick his wife and children up from school on the day of the murder. The family, who got a ride home from another family member, found Torres’s body upon returning. Torres had been working outside his house, and it is believed he entered his home to retrieve an additional piece of equipment before he was fatally shot. Shell casings were discovered at the scene. According to FOX26Houston, some property was also reported missing from Torres's home.
Following a two-day search, Guzman was arrested by Harris County authorities on Sunday in the 7200 block of Fairbanks North Houston Road. Guzman's motive for the crime, as he allegedly revealed to authorities, was feeling "unloved and unwelcomed." Official accounts state that Torres and his wife had raised Guzman for the last six years as if he were their son. Video evidence suggests that the shooter was seen limping away from the scene, correlating with reports of Guzman having a foot injury. "When he was taken into custody, according to authorities, Guzman admitted to going to Torres' house and shooting him when they were alone," as per a statement obtained by KHOU.
