A Texas man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to fatally shooting another man during a confrontation over a financial dispute. Prosecutors said investigators later recovered the murder weapon from inside a refrigerator, where it had been hidden among food items, and forensic testing linked it directly to the killing.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Murder
The Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office announced that Adis Hernandez-Rivas, 24, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of Duniel Valladares Fernandez.
According to prosecutors, Hernandez-Rivas accepted a plea agreement, bringing to an end a criminal case that had remained active for more than three years.
Financial Dispute Led to Deadly Confrontation
The shooting occurred on Feb. 16, 2023, at a home in the 7700 block of Winsford Drive in San Antonio, Texas.
Authorities said Hernandez-Rivas arrived at the residence with Marco Antonio Moreno Vasquez, 34, to confront Valladares Fernandez over a financial disagreement.
Investigators allege that before the confrontation, Moreno Vasquez handed Hernandez-Rivas a handgun and instructed him to shoot the victim during the encounter.
Security Camera Captured Moments Before Shooting
According to an arrest affidavit, a home security camera recorded the events leading up to the fatal shooting.
The footage allegedly showed Valladares Fernandez walking to the property’s front gate to meet the two men. Investigators said the conversation became increasingly heated before Hernandez-Rivas reached into his pocket, raised his arm, and pointed what appeared to be a firearm at the victim.
Police said the video showed Hernandez-Rivas’ arm recoil, indicating that a shot had been fired.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene and transported Valladares Fernandez to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Suspects Arrested Days Later
Several days after the homicide, officers in Atascosa County spotted the suspects’ vehicle during a traffic stop.
Both Hernandez-Rivas and Moreno Vasquez were taken into custody.
As the investigation continued, detectives searched Moreno Vasquez’s residence for evidence connected to the shooting.
Murder Weapon Hidden Among Food
During the search, investigators discovered the firearm believed to have been used in the killing.
According to the district attorney’s office, the gun had been hidden inside a refrigerator among food items in an apparent attempt to conceal it from law enforcement.
The firearm was submitted for forensic examination, and prosecutors said ballistics testing confirmed it matched the shell casings recovered from the homicide scene, providing critical evidence in the case.
Co-Defendant Previously Received 40-Year Sentence
Authorities said Marco Antonio Moreno Vasquez had already been convicted for his role in the crime.
Prosecutors said he supplied the firearm and directed Hernandez-Rivas to shoot the victim during the confrontation.
Moreno Vasquez was previously sentenced to 40 years in prison.
District Attorney Says Justice Has Been Served
Following Hernandez-Rivas’ sentencing, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said the case demonstrates that everyone involved in a violent crime will be held accountable for their actions.
He also thanked prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, and law enforcement officers whose efforts helped secure convictions against both defendants.
With Hernandez-Rivas now sentenced to 30 years and Moreno Vasquez already serving a 40-year prison term, prosecutors say another measure of justice has been delivered for Duniel Valladares Fernandez and his family.
