A late-night trip for fresh ink on San Antonio’s South Side has ended in a decades-long prison term. On Friday, May 22, 2026, a Bexar County jury’s verdict translated into a 45-year sentence for a man convicted in the 2021 shooting death of a local tattoo artist.
Raymond Hernandez, 33, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 45 years in prison, according to a district attorney’s office press release reported by KSAT. Prosecutors said the victim, tattoo artist Leonel Chavez, was 46 when he was fatally shot on April 3, 2021, after Hernandez went to a home to get a tattoo and an argument broke out.
Legal context
Under Texas law, murder is a first-degree felony that can bring anywhere from five to 99 years in prison or life, plus a possible fine. As outlined by FindLaw, Hernandez’s 45-year sentence falls well within that range. How much time he ultimately serves could hinge on parole rules, any credit for time already spent in custody, and other factors that affect release eligibility.
How police say it unfolded
Police said Chavez was shot just before 10 p.m. on April 3, 2021, in a home on the 800 block of West Baetz Boulevard near Commercial Avenue. A neighbor reported hearing gunfire, and officers arrived to find Chavez with fatal wounds, according to KSAT. The outlet reported that officers found Hernandez several blocks away and that he still had a gun when he was taken into custody. Investigators said the men argued before the shooting and that Hernandez ran from the scene on foot.
The sentence closes a case that has been open for more than five years and brings one long-running South Side killing to judgment. Court records will be updated at the Bexar County courthouse.
