A 17-year-old McKinney resident has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicted him of capital murder in a double shooting that left two men dead along Chestnut Street late last year.
The deadly encounter unfolded on Nov. 9, 2024, when prosecutors say two men tried to run away as shots rang out on the residential block. Both victims were rushed to Medical City McKinney and later pronounced dead. Because the defendant had been certified to stand trial as an adult, Judge Andrea Thompson handed down the life term required under Texas law.
The Collin County Criminal District Attorney's Office identified the defendant as Emiliano Miguel Zapatero, noting in a Facebook post that he was 16 years old at the time of the offense. Investigators located and arrested Zapatero several days after the shooting, according to the Collin County Criminal District Attorney's Office.
What prosecutors say
According to prosecutors, surveillance video from the scene shows Zapatero taking a firearm from another person, then firing 13 shots as the victims tried to flee. Both men were hit in the head while running away, authorities said. Officers arrived to find the two men wounded on Chestnut Street, and they were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were later pronounced dead, as reported by CBS Texas.
Sentence and legal details
Because Zapatero was under 18 when the crimes occurred, Texas law required a life sentence in this capital murder case once prosecutors did not seek the death penalty. Under that statute, an inmate in this category is not eligible for parole until actual calendar time served reaches 40 years, with good-conduct time not counted toward that minimum. Those rules, which left the judge no discretion on the basic punishment, are spelled out in the Texas Legislature.
Who worked the case
The DA's office credited McKinney detectives Monte Robertson and Mark Brydges with tracking down and arresting Zapatero. Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Alex Oestreich and Ann Mathew prosecuted the case, with support from District Attorney Investigator Jeremy Bigham. Judge Andrea Thompson imposed the automatic life sentence required by Texas law, according to the Collin County Criminal District Attorney's Office.
Victims and reaction
Police say two men were shot during the incident and taken to Medical City McKinney, where both died from their injuries. Collin County Criminal District Attorney Greg Willis publicly praised the jury's verdict and the sentence, calling it "accountability for the brutal murder of two men," according to CBS Texas.
Background and what's next
The case highlights how Texas handles juveniles charged with capital murder. Once a defendant is certified to adult court, that person faces the same punishment range as an adult, including a long wait before parole is even an option. The statute that ties parole eligibility to actual calendar time served, rather than good-conduct credits, is laid out in the Texas Legislature.
