Texas Border Business
ALAMO – A Hidalgo County judge pronounced Joel Ismael Gonzalez, 21, of Alamo, Texas, guilty of Murder.
On November 7, 2019, the Weslaco Police Department responded to a major motor vehicle collision that involved a shooting near the 500 block of South Utah in Weslaco. The incident led to the death of one of the occupants of the vehicles, Dr. John Dominguez. Surveillance footage recovered during the investigation, captured an attempt to rob the deceased prior to the collision. A lengthy investigation led to the arrest of Joel Ismael Gonzalez, Luis Antonio Valenzuela, and Josue Torres Benavidez. The investigation revealed that Gonzalez was the shooter during the attempted robbery, and that the victim suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg along with multiple traumatic injuries most likely caused during the collision.
Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced by the court on May 13 to confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for 40 years. The case was heard by Judge Luis Singleterry of the 92nd District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas.
“Justice demands harsh consequences as the defendant’s actions directly contributed to Dr. Dominguez’s death and put many other innocent people in harm’s way,” said Hidalgo County District Attorney Toribio “Terry” Palacios. “I want to thank the Weslaco Police Department and other involved agencies for their hard work and tireless effort in resolving this case.”
The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Weslaco Police Department, Runnels County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and the Weslaco DPS Crime Lab.
Chief Assistant Criminal District of Special Crimes Hope Palacios prosecuted the case.
