SAN ANTONIO – Justice was finally served for the family of 21-year-old Mario Alvarez as Gilbert Torres, the second person charged in Alvarez’s murder, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Torres had accepted a plea deal in December 2023 but went on the run after cutting off his GPS monitor.

The tragic incident occurred in August 2022 when Alvarez was lured to a vehicle outside his home and shot and killed by Torres, who was hiding in the backseat.

Both Torres and his accomplice, Stephanie Zaragosa, were arrested in the weeks following the murder.

While Torres never provided a motive for the crime, Zaragosa admitted to driving the vehicle and calling Alvarez over, citing anger as the reason, though specifics remain unclear.

Under the plea deal, Torres faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, which the state deemed appropriate given the circumstances of the case.

Prosecutor Jeff Mulliner emphasized Torres’s violation of bond conditions by fleeing after agreeing to the plea deal, asserting that justice should still be served.

Despite claiming fear for his safety, Torres was sentenced to the full 30 years by Judge Kristina Escalona, who noted that he had opportunities to seek help or surrender himself after Zaragosa’s sentencing.

Zaragosa, who also took a plea deal, received an 18-year sentence. Both Torres and Zaragosa will be eligible for parole after serving half of their respective sentences.