A Texas man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading no contest to murdering his girlfriend’s father during an argument that began over a nightclub cover charge and ended in a fatal shooting outside a San Antonio restaurant.
Franco Xavier Summers, 34, entered a no contest plea on Tuesday to one count of murder in the death of 43-year-old Christopher Paul Fuentes. Following the plea, Bexar County District Judge Jefferson Moore sentenced Summers to 25 years in a Texas state prison, according to court records.
Plea Agreement Dismissed Additional Charges
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed two additional charges against Summers:
- Assault involving family violence by strangulation
- Evading arrest
The agreement was reached just before opening statements were scheduled to begin in Summers’ murder trial.
Under Texas law, Summers must serve at least half of his 25-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Dispute Began at Nightclub
The case stems from a fatal shooting that occurred on Nov. 9, 2024, outside a Taco Palenque restaurant in San Antonio, Texas.
According to investigators, the conflict started when Summers became angry after Christopher Fuentes refused to pay a cover charge to enter a nightclub.
Police said the disagreement continued after the group left the club.
While riding together in a vehicle, Summers allegedly told both Fuentes and his own girlfriend that he had a gun.
Victim Tried to Leave
Authorities said Fuentes and his daughter eventually got out of the vehicle in an attempt to distance themselves from Summers and avoid further confrontation.
Instead of driving away, investigators allege that Summers followed them as they walked near the Taco Palenque parking lot.
Surveillance Video Captured Shooting
According to investigators, surveillance footage showed Fuentes approach the driver’s-side window of Summers’ vehicle.
Police said a brief struggle followed before Summers reached inside the vehicle, retrieved a handgun, and fired multiple shots at Fuentes.
During the confrontation, investigators said Fuentes could be seen urging his daughter to run away from the vehicle.
Fuentes died from the gunshot wounds.
His daughter escaped by running into the Taco Palenque restaurant for safety.
No other injuries were reported.
Daughter Described Final Moments
Following the shooting, Fuentes’ daughter described witnessing her father’s death.
She said Summers looked directly at her before shooting her father and explained that she continues to relive those moments, remembering the expression on her father’s face after he realized he had been shot.
She also spoke about the lasting emotional trauma and difficulty sleeping since the incident.
Family Speaks at Sentencing
Before the sentence was imposed, several of Fuentes’ relatives addressed the court and spoke about the devastating impact of his death.
His cousin, Christina Fuentes, remembered him as a devoted family member whose life had value despite his imperfections.
Another cousin, David Rocha, told the court that the killing permanently changed the lives of everyone in the family and left emotional wounds that will never fully heal.
Prosecutor Calls Shooting a Tragic Escalation
Following the sentencing, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said the case demonstrated how a relatively minor disagreement escalated into deadly violence.
He said Christopher Fuentes lost his life while trying to protect himself and his loved ones and thanked prosecutors and law enforcement officers for their work in securing the conviction and holding Summers accountable.
Sentence Finalized
With the acceptance of the plea agreement, Summers avoided a full murder trial but was convicted through his no contest plea.
He will serve 25 years in prison, with parole eligibility only after completing at least half of that sentence under Texas law.
The case concludes the criminal proceedings stemming from the November 2024 shooting that claimed the life of Christopher Paul Fuentes after what began as an argument over a nightclub entrance fee.
