Richard Acosta Jr. is accused of being the getaway driver for his son, Abel Acosta, after Abel allegedly shot and killed three youngsters at a Texaco.
DALLAS COUNTY, Texas — A jury is now deliberating the destiny of a North Texas father on trial for capital homicide for his position in the taking pictures deaths of three teenagers in Garland.
Richard Acosta Jr. is accused of being the getaway driver for his son, Abel Acosta, after Abel allegedly shot and killed three youngsters at a Texaco comfort retailer in December of 2021.
Abel Acosta has nonetheless not been situated.
Friday morning, the protection rested their case, and the state started closing arguments earlier than the jury was despatched to deliberate if Acosta Jr. ought to spend the remainder of his life in jail for the deaths of 14-year-old Xavier Gonzalez, 16-year-old Ivan Noyola and 17-year-old Rafael Garcia.
Acosta Jr. took the stand in his personal protection on Thursday, saying he didn’t know what his son deliberate to do the day he allegedly shot the three teenagers.
“I would have tried to do something. I would have tried to stop any situation if he was going to try to harm somebody,” Acosta Jr. instructed the jury.
He stated after working errands along with his son Abel, he stopped to get Tylenol for his spouse on the comfort retailer.
He instructed the jury his son was keen to leap out and confront teenagers that he knew inside the shop about his stolen necklace. Acosta Jr. stated Abel tried to leap out of his transferring truck and when he reached to seize him, he wrestled out of his T-shirt as he obtained out.
Surveillance video exhibits Abel sneaking contained in the entrance door shirtless however carrying a hat and a blue surgical masks.
Acosta Jr. stated he heard a number of gunshots after which Abel ran again to the truck.
“He opens that back door and said ‘get out of here, somebody’s shooting. Get me out of here,’” Acosta stated his son stated.
Acosta Jr. was adamant that his son didn’t inform him what occurred, and he didn’t press the problem or name 911 after they obtained residence.
And when he went to test on Abel about an hour after the incident, who he stated had a historical past of working away, his son was gone.
“I want him to turn himself in. We don’t know if he’s alive or if he’s breathing or anything. Nobody knows.”
But the prosecution grilled him about how he might haven’t recognized in regards to the gun when Abel was solely carrying saggy basketball shorts and the gun had a big clip.
Prosecutors allege that Acosta Jr. encourage his son to behave and has been serving to conceal him from arrest.
If convicted Friday, Acosta Jr. faces life in jail with out the opportunity of parole.
A reward is being provided for the arrest of Abel Acosta. Anyone with information relating to his location is requested to name police at 972-485-4869.
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