BREAKING: In a shocking turn of events, charges against the four suspects arrested in connection with the tragic death of 14-year-old Simon Cuevas have been downgraded from capital murder to assault. This urgent update raises significant concerns about the legal proceedings surrounding this case.
Just minutes after leaving San Antonio Independent School District’s Brewer Academy on April 16, 2023, Simon Cuevas was brutally beaten and shot at the intersection of Elmendorf Street and Merida Street. Surveillance footage captured five individuals following Cuevas before the violent incident. Initially, all five were charged with capital murder, but their charges have now been reduced to a third-degree felony of injury to a child with bodily injury.
According to local defense attorney Karl Alexander, who is not involved in the case, there are several potential reasons for this significant downgrade. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the benefit of viewing all of the evidence in this case,” Alexander stated. He emphasized that various factors could have influenced the decision, including premature police action and flaws in the evidence.
The two adult suspects, Fernando Flores and Andrew Cantu, both 18 years old, have yet to receive sentencing. Meanwhile, two juvenile brothers, aged 14 and 15, were sentenced on November 6 to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department based on their progress and behavior. Tragically, another suspect, Caesar Tijerina, 20, lost his life to a self-inflicted gunshot wound in August.
Alexander indicated that the downgrading of charges can be shocking for the public. “It seems very shocking that someone can be arrested for capital murder and then suddenly a charge that is significantly less serious actually gets filed,” he explained.
He further elaborated that law enforcement often feels pressured to make arrests to ensure public safety. “You have to react. You have to do something; you have to make an arrest and get someone off the street. And then as the investigation unfolds, you realize, ‘well, perhaps we jumped to a conclusion,’” Alexander noted.
He also mentioned that a lack of cooperation from witnesses could hinder the case. “If no one talked and they have nothing to demonstrate that everybody knew that gun was there, that’s where you’re going to run into a stumbling block,” he added.
As this case develops, the community remains on edge, seeking justice for Simon Cuevas. Parents and residents are calling for increased accountability and transparency in the judicial process.
Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent story as it unfolds. For additional coverage, visit KSAT.com.
